EXTRACT_ELEMENT() : extract an element from a list (first, last)

In a formula-type column, the EXTRACT_ELEMENT() function extracts a specific element from a value containing several elements (a text list), and always returns a text-type result. Typical use cases: retrieving the first action performed, identifying the last step of a process, extracting a specific value from a concatenated field.

The output type format of the result is configured in the output field options of the formula editor: see Formula column.

Syntax

EXTRACT_ELEMENT(value, number, "separator")

How to reference parameters in TimeTonic: $field_name for a field (link, linked-table column, number, selection, formula, text); "free text" in quotes; no quotes for numbers.

Parameters

# Parameter Description

1 value Column or text containing several elements.

2 number Position of the element to extract.

3 "separator" (Optional) Separator between the elements.

Important rules

Rule
The index starts at 1.
-1 extracts the last element.
The default separator is the comma ( , ).
The result is always text-type.

Examples

Case 1: extract the first element

"Contact, Proposal sent, Meeting scheduled, Closed won" becomes "Contact". Useful for knowing the first action taken.

EXTRACT_ELEMENT(Actions commerciales, 1)

1 → Source data (list of elements)
2 → Formula that extracts the 1st element
3 → Final value displayed in the table

Case 2: extract the last element (the most common)

"Contact, Proposal sent, Meeting scheduled, Closed won" becomes "Closed won". Ideal for displaying the current state or the last step reached.

EXTRACT_ELEMENT(Actions commerciales, -1)

1 → Source data (list of elements)
2 → Formula that extracts the last element
3 → Final value displayed in the table

Case 3: use a custom separator

If the elements are separated by a character other than the comma (e.g. ";"): "Email; Call; Meeting; Closed lost" becomes "Email".

EXTRACT_ELEMENT(Actions commerciales, 1, ";")

EXTRACT_ELEMENT example, custom separator

1 → Source data (list of elements)
2 → Formula that extracts the 1st element while explicitly setting the ";" separator
3 → Final value displayed in the table

Common mistakes

Mistake to avoid
Using 0 as the index.
Forgetting the quotes around the separator.
Mixing several separators in the same column.
Confusing concatenated text with linked columns.

Key takeaways: 1 → first element; -1 → last element; default separator: the comma ( , ). An ideal function for step tracking, statuses and simplified histories.

Go further

SUBSTITUTE

Replace all occurrences of one text with another.

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