# MinString - script function
MinString() finds string values in the expression and returns the first text value sorted over a number of records, as defined by a group by clause.
Syntax:
MinString (MinString ( expr expr ))
Return data type: dual
Arguments:
MinString arguments
| Argument | Description |
| --- | --- |
| expr | The expression or field containing the data to be measured. |
Limitations:
If no text value is found, NULL is returned.
Examples and results:
Add the example script to your document and run it. Then add, at least, the fields listed in the results column to a sheet in your document to see the result.
Examples and results
| Example | Result field | Result value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `TeamData:
`
`LOAD * inline [`
`SalesGroup\|Team\|Date\|Amount
`
`East\|Gamma\|01/05/2013\|20000
`
`East\|Gamma\|02/05/2013\|20000
`
`West\|Zeta\|01/06/2013\|19000
`
`East\|Alpha\|01/07/2013\|25000
`
`East\|Delta\|01/08/2013\|14000
`
`West\|Epsilon\|01/09/2013\|17000
`
`West\|Eta\|01/10/2013\|14000
`
`East\|Beta\|01/11/2013\|20000
`
`West\|Theta\|01/12/2013\|23000
`
`] (delimiter is '\|');`
` `
`Concat1:`
`LOAD SalesGroup,MinString(Team) as MinString1 Resident TeamData Group By SalesGroup;` | SalesGroup
East
West | MinString1
Alpha
Epsilon |
| Given that the TeamData table is loaded as in the previous example, and your load script has the SET statement:
`SET DateFormat='DD/MM/YYYY';`':
`LOAD SalesGroup,MinString(Date) as MinString2 Resident TeamData Group By SalesGroup;` | SalesGroup
East
West | MinString2
01/05/2013
01062/2013 |