Try this: select trim(substr(eventtext ,instr(eventtext ,':')+1)) from pecom_event where eventtext like '%Start net%'; Regards, Eugene Pipko Seattle Pacific Industries office: 253.872.5243 cell: 206.304.7726 Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. -----Original Message----- From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Barbara Baker Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 11:37 AM To: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: substr instr Does anyone want to take pity on me and help me with this substr/instr problem? I've wasted hours trying to come up with the "magic combination" I have thousands of records that look like this: select eventtext from pecom_event where eventtext like '%Start net%'; -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Start net counter : 182552, 179058 Start net counter : 201354, 197592 Start net counter : 203542, 201282 Start net counter : 205420, 201284 Start net counter : 7732, 6854 Start net counter : 9164, 6870 Start net counter : 26798, 24792 Start net counter : 26798, 24794 I need the number after the : but before the comma, for example, 26798 in the last record I've gotten as far as getting anything past the : then I get stuck: select SUBSTR('Start net counter : 26798, 24794', INSTR('Start net counter : 26798, 24794', ':', 1, 1)+1, INSTR('Start net counter : 26798, 24794', ',', 1,1)-1) from dual; SUBSTR('START ------------- 26798, 24794 I'd be grateful for any help. Data is currently in a 9.2.0.7 oracle database on linux. Thanks! Barb Baker -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l ��i��0���zX���+��n��{�+i�^