Try this: mysql> SELECT LENGTH('0 0 0 1 0 1 0 25 7 0 139 0 9') - LENGTH(REPLACE('0 0 0 1 0 1 0 25 7 0 139 0 9',' ','')) + 1; +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | LENGTH('0 0 0 1 0 1 0 25 7 0 139 0 9') - LENGTH(REPLACE('0 0 0 1 0 1 0 25 7 0 139 0 9',' ','')) + 1 | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 13 | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ 1 row in set (0.00 sec)
or Try it like this: mysql> SELECT LENGTH(st) - LENGTH(REPLACE(st,' ','')) + 1 FieldCount FROM (SELECT '0 0 0 1 0 1 0 25 7 0 139 0 9' st) A; +------------+ | FieldCount | +------------+ | 13 | +------------+ 1 row in set (0.00 sec) ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: mysql@lists.mysql.com Sent: Tuesday, September 4, 2007 11:36:41 AM (GMT-0500) America/New_York Subject: finding count of spaces in a string We have numerous identical tables with a varchar column that holds data like this: "0 0 0 1 0 1 0 25 7 0 139 0 9". Essentially there are a bunch of integers with a single space as a separator. There _should_ be no more than 30 entries ( and 29 spaces ), but sometimes the system misfires and there are more or less. Is there a MySQL solution to getting a count of the spaces present in the field, figuring that spaces + 1 will equal entries? It's fairly straight forward using a PHP application, but I'd like to get the DB server to accomplish this task. Not having much luck finding a solution in the manual. Thanks, David -- Rolando A. Edwards MySQL DBA SWMX, Inc. 1 Bridge Street Irvington, NY 10533 (914) 406-8406 (Main) (201) 660-3221 (Mobile) -- MySQL General Mailing List For list archives: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql To unsubscribe: http://lists.mysql.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]