String functions (LEFT, RIGHT, CONTAINS) in Tableau - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ dax_lod_result

intermediate

Extracting Left Part of a String

Given a field ProductCode with values like 'AB12345', which Tableau calculation correctly extracts the first two characters?

A RIGHT([ProductCode], 2)

B CONTAINS([ProductCode], 2)

C LEFT([ProductCode], 2)

D LEFT([ProductCode], -2)

💡 Hint

Think about which function extracts characters from the start of the string.

LEFT(string, number) extracts characters from the start. RIGHT extracts from the end. CONTAINS checks for substring presence. Negative length is invalid.

❓ visualization

intermediate

Highlighting Rows Containing a Substring

You want to highlight all rows where the CustomerName contains the substring 'Smith'. Which calculated field formula will return TRUE for those rows?

A LEFT([CustomerName], 'Smith')

B CONTAINS([CustomerName], 'Smith')

C RIGHT([CustomerName], 5) = 'Smith'

D CONTAINS('Smith', [CustomerName])

💡 Hint

CONTAINS checks if the first argument string includes the second argument substring.

CONTAINS(string, substring) returns TRUE if substring is found in string. LEFT and RIGHT extract parts but do not check substring presence. The order of arguments in CONTAINS matters.

🧠 Conceptual

advanced

Understanding RIGHT Function Behavior

What will the expression RIGHT('DataScience', 4) return in Tableau?

A 'ence'

B 'Scie'

C 'enceScience'

D Error: Invalid argument

💡 Hint

RIGHT extracts characters from the end of the string.

RIGHT('DataScience', 4) returns the last 4 characters: 'ence'.

🔧 Formula Fix

advanced

Identify the Error in String Function Usage

Which option will cause an error when used as a calculated field in Tableau?

A LEFT([OrderID], -1)

B LEFT([OrderID], 3)

C CONTAINS([OrderID], '')

D RIGHT([OrderID], 0)

💡 Hint

Check if negative length arguments are allowed in LEFT or RIGHT functions.

LEFT and RIGHT functions do not accept negative length arguments. Using -1 causes an error.

🎯 Scenario

expert

Combining String Functions for Conditional Labeling

You have a field EmployeeID with values like 'EMP2023X'. You want to create a calculated field that returns 'Senior' if the last character is 'X', otherwise 'Junior'. Which formula achieves this?

A IF CONTAINS([EmployeeID], 'X') THEN 'Senior' ELSE 'Junior' END

B IF LEFT([EmployeeID], 1) = 'X' THEN 'Senior' ELSE 'Junior' END

C IF RIGHT([EmployeeID], 2) = 'X' THEN 'Senior' ELSE 'Junior' END

D IF RIGHT([EmployeeID], 1) = 'X' THEN 'Senior' ELSE 'Junior' END

💡 Hint

Check which function extracts the last character and compare it to 'X'.

RIGHT([EmployeeID], 1) extracts the last character. Comparing it to 'X' correctly identifies 'Senior'. LEFT checks the start, CONTAINS checks anywhere, and RIGHT with 2 characters compares two characters, not one.

Practice

1. What does the Tableau function LEFT('Tableau', 3) return?

easy

A. 'Tab'

B. 'bleau'

C. 'Table'

D. 'au'

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand LEFT function

   The LEFT function extracts characters from the start of a string. Here, it extracts 3 characters from 'Tableau'.

2. Step 2: Extract first 3 characters

   The first 3 characters of 'Tableau' are 'Tab'.

3. Final Answer:

   'Tab' -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   LEFT('Tableau', 3) = 'Tab' [OK]

Hint: LEFT gets characters from the start of text [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing LEFT with RIGHT function
• Extracting more or fewer characters than specified
• Assuming it extracts from the end

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to check if the string 'Data' contains the letter 'a' in Tableau?

easy

A. LEFT('Data', 'a')

B. CONTAINS('Data', 'a')

C. CONTAINS('a', 'Data')

D. RIGHT('Data', 'a')

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand CONTAINS syntax

   CONTAINS(text, substring) checks if substring exists in text. The first argument is the main text, second is what to find.

2. Step 2: Apply to given strings

   To check if 'Data' contains 'a', use CONTAINS('Data', 'a').

3. Final Answer:

   CONTAINS('Data', 'a') -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   CONTAINS('Data', 'a') = TRUE [OK]

Hint: CONTAINS(text, substring) order matters: text first [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Swapping the order of arguments in CONTAINS
• Using LEFT or RIGHT instead of CONTAINS
• Passing characters as numbers

3. What is the result of RIGHT('Analytics', 4) in Tableau?

medium

A. 'tics'

B. 'Anal'

C. 'ytic'

D. 'naly'

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand RIGHT function

   RIGHT extracts characters from the end of a string. Here, it extracts 4 characters from 'Analytics'.

2. Step 2: Extract last 4 characters

   The last 4 characters of 'Analytics' are 'tics'.

3. Final Answer:

   'tics' -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   RIGHT('Analytics', 4) = 'tics' [OK]

Hint: RIGHT gets characters from the end of text [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Extracting characters from the start instead of end
• Counting wrong number of characters
• Confusing with LEFT function

4. You wrote the formula CONTAINS('Business', Business) in Tableau but it gives an error. What is the problem?

medium

A. The first argument should be a number

B. CONTAINS cannot be used with text

C. LEFT function should be used instead

D. Missing quotes around 'Business' in second argument

Solution

1. Step 1: Check CONTAINS argument types

   CONTAINS requires both arguments to be text strings or fields. Here, second argument is missing quotes, so Tableau treats it as a field name.

2. Step 2: Fix by adding quotes

   Adding quotes around 'Business' in second argument makes it a string literal, fixing the error.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing quotes around 'Business' in second argument -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   CONTAINS('Business', 'Business') works [OK]

Hint: Always quote text strings inside CONTAINS [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using unquoted text instead of string literals
• Confusing CONTAINS with LEFT or RIGHT
• Passing numbers instead of text

5. You want to create a calculated field in Tableau that returns TRUE if the first 2 letters of a product code are 'AB' and the code contains '123'. Which formula is correct?

hard

A. CONTAINS([Product Code], 'AB') AND LEFT([Product Code], 3) = '123'

B. RIGHT([Product Code], 2) = 'AB' OR CONTAINS('123', [Product Code])

C. LEFT([Product Code], 2) = 'AB' AND CONTAINS([Product Code], '123')

D. LEFT([Product Code], 2) = 'AB' AND CONTAINS('123', [Product Code])

Solution

1. Step 1: Check LEFT function usage

   LEFT([Product Code], 2) extracts first 2 letters. We compare it to 'AB' to check the start.

2. Step 2: Check CONTAINS usage

   CONTAINS([Product Code], '123') checks if '123' is anywhere in the code. The order is correct: main text first, substring second.

3. Step 3: Combine conditions with AND

   Both conditions must be true, so use AND.

4. Final Answer:

   LEFT([Product Code], 2) = 'AB' AND CONTAINS([Product Code], '123') -> Option C

5. Quick Check:

   Correct syntax and logic = LEFT([Product Code], 2) = 'AB' AND CONTAINS([Product Code], '123') [OK]

Hint: Use LEFT for start, CONTAINS for anywhere, combine with AND [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Swapping LEFT and RIGHT functions
• Reversing arguments in CONTAINS
• Using OR instead of AND