SQL Server TRIM character

Question

I have the following string: \'BOB*\', how do I trim the * so it shows up as \'BOB\'

I tried the RTRIM(\'BOB*\',\'*\') but does not work as says needs only 1 paramet

Answer 1

LEFT('BOB*', LEN('BOB*')-1)

should do it.

Answer 2

CREATE FUNCTION dbo.TrimCharacter
(
    @Value NVARCHAR(4000),
    @CharacterToTrim NVARCHAR(1)
)
RETURNS NVARCHAR(4000)
AS
BEGIN
    SET @Value = LTRIM(RTRIM(@Value))
    SET @Value = REVERSE(SUBSTRING(@Value, PATINDEX('%[^'+@CharacterToTrim+']%', @Value), LEN(@Value)))
    SET @Value = REVERSE(SUBSTRING(@Value, PATINDEX('%[^'+@CharacterToTrim+']%', @Value), LEN(@Value)))
    RETURN @Value
END
GO
--- Example
----- SELECT dbo.TrimCharacter('***BOB*********', '*')
----- returns 'BOB'

Answer 3

If you wanted behavior similar to how RTRIM handles spaces i.e. that "B*O*B**" would turn into "B*O*B" without losing the embedded ones then something like -

REVERSE(SUBSTRING(REVERSE('B*O*B**'), PATINDEX('%[^*]%',REVERSE('B*O*B**')), LEN('B*O*B**') - PATINDEX('%[^*]%', REVERSE('B*O*B**')) + 1))

Should do it.

Answer 4

@teejay solution is great. But the code below can be more understandable:

declare @X nvarchar(max)='BOB *'

set @X=replace(@X,' ','^')

set @X=replace(@X,'*',' ')

set @X= ltrim(rtrim(@X))

set @X=replace(@X,'^',' ')

Answer 5

SqlServer2017 has a new way to do it: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/functions/trim-transact-sql?view=sql-server-2017

SELECT TRIM('0' FROM '00001900'); -> 19

SELECT TRIM( '.,! ' FROM '# test .'); -> # test

SELECT TRIM('*' FROM 'BOB*'); --> BOB

Unfortunately, RTRIM does not support trimming a specific character.

Answer 6

    SELECT REPLACE('BOB*', '*', '')  
    SELECT REPLACE('B*OB*', '*', '') 
-------------------------------------
     Result : BOB
-------------------------------------

this will replace all asterisk* from the text