MySQL/SQL retrieve first 40 characters of a text field?

Question

How can I retrieve a text field from mysql db table, but not the entire text, just the few 40 or so characters.

Can this be done in sql or do I need to do it using p

Answer 1

SELECT LEFT(MY_COLUMN, 40) FROM MY_TABLE

Function in the MySQL reference manual:

http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/string-functions.html#function_left