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

try this...
SELECT LEFT(field name, 40) FROM table name WHERE condition for first 40 and
SELECT RIGHT(field name, 40) FROM table name WHERE condition for last 40