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.