Remove the last word from values in a string field via Avenue

Summary

The sample script in this article removes the last word from values in a string field. The script creates a new field and populates it with the new string values. For example, if a table contains a County name field with values: San Diego County, Ventura County, Jeff H. Davis County, and so forth; the script will create a new field with the values: San Diego, Ventura, Jeff H. Davis, and so forth.

Procedure

1. Open a new script window.
   
   
   A. Activate the Project window.
   B. Click the Scripts icon.
   C. Click New.
   
   
2. Copy the following code into the new window:
   
   

   Code:
   '-- Script: lastword.ave 
   ' 
   '-- This script strips the last word from values in a string field.
   
   TheTable = av.GetActiveDoc 
   theVTab = theTable.GetVTab 
   theVTab.SetEditable(TRUE) 
   theFieldList = theVTab.GetFields 
   theOldField = MsgBox.List(theFieldList, 
   "Choose a field which you want the last word deleted","") 
   theNewField = Field.Make("County2", #FIELD_CHAR, 30, 0) 
   theVTab.AddFields({theNewField}) 
   theRecCount = theVTab.GetNumRecords 
   av.SetStatus(1) 
   for each rec in theVTab 
     av.SetStatus((rec/theRecCount) * 100) 
     inputString = theVTab.ReturnValueString(theOldField, rec) 
     inputStringWordCount = inputString.AsList.Count 
     if (inputStringWordCount < 2) then 
       theVTab.SetValueString(theNewField, rec, inputString) 
     else 
       outputString = "" 
       for each word in 0..(inputStringWordCount - 2) 
         outputString = outputString ++ inputString.Extract(word) 
         outputString = outputString.Trim 
        end 
       theVTab.SetValueString(theNewField, rec, outputString) 
     end 
   end 
   theVTab.SetEditable(FALSE) 
   av.ClearStatus 
   
   '-- End Script: lastword.ave
   

   
   
3. Attach the script to a button on the Table GUI.
   
   
   A. Compile the script.
   B. Switch to the Project window.
   C. Select Customize from the Project menu.
   D. Select Table under the Type dropdown on the Customize dialog.
   E. Select Buttons under Category.
   F. Click the New button.
   G. Double-click the Click property in the Customize dialog box.
   H. Enter the name of the script in the Script Manager and click Select.
   I. Close the Customize dialog box.
   
   For more information, see 'Customize dialog box' in ArcView Help.
   
   
4. Open the table and click the new button.
5. Select the string field to process and click OK.