Re: update part of a column

> I would like to know if I can update part of a column. ie
>
> update myfile set > substr(direct_key,1,10)='1234567890' ....
>
>This does not work. Is this possible?

Not in the way you are attempting to do it.

>Or am I looking at this the wrong way?

Sure: just reassemble the _entire_ column keeping the parts from the original column value that you want to keep, and inserting the new parts you want to insert, e.g.

update myfile set direct_key =
'1234567890' || substr(direct_key,11,10)
where substr(direct_key,1,10) = '0123456789';

Join 18 million Eudora users by signing up for a free Eudora Web-Mail account at http://www.eudoramail.com