SUBSTRING: substring
The Substring function is used to extract a portion of a string based on either character index values or specific text markers. This function gives users the flexibility to extract a substring using numerical positions or reference texts, with the option to include or exclude the boundary markers.
Example 1: Using Start and End Text
Scenario: You have a string:
“OrderID: #INV-98345-DELIVERED”
You want to extract the portion between #INV- and -DELIVERED, which is 98345.
Steps to Configure
- Add a new step in your automation.
- From the Action dropdown, select Set a Variable Value.
- In the Element Key field, enter the variable name where the result will be stored (e.g., ExtractedText).
- Click on Form, then select Functions from the dropdown.
- From the function list, select SUBSTRING.
- Provide the following parameters:
- inputString: Enter the full text string to extract from (e.g., OrderID: #INV-98345-DELIVERED)
- type: Text (start and end markers).
- inputStartIndex: Enter the start index or start text, based on the selected type (e.g., #INV-).
- inputEndIndex: Enter the end index or end text, based on the selected type (e.g., -DELIVERED).
- Include: Select Yes to include the start and end values in the result, or No to exclude them.
- Click Save.


Expected Outcome on Execution
- The function extracts the text based on the specified range or text markers (e.g., 98345).
- The result is saved in the variable specified in Element Key (e.g., ExtractedText).
- This output can be referenced using ${VariableName} in later steps (e.g., ${ExtractedText}).
Example 2: Using Index Values
Scenario: You have a string from a web element that displays user information like:
“Logged in as: Admin User”
You want to extract just the word “Admin” from this text using character positions (index).
Steps to Configure
- Add a new step in your automation.
- From the Action dropdown, select Set a Variable Value.
- In the Element Key field, enter the variable name where the result will be stored (e.g., UserRole).
- Click on Form, then select Functions from the dropdown.
- From the function list, select SUBSTRING.
- Provide the following parameters:
- inputString: Enter the full text string to extract from (e.g., Logged in as: Admin User)
- type: Index (start and end markers).
- inputStartIndex: Enter the start index based on the selected type (e.g., 14 as Index 14 is index before Admin).
- inputEndIndex: Enter the end index, based on the selected type (e.g., 19 as Index 19 is index after Admin).
- Include: Select Yes to include the start and end values in the result, or No to exclude them.
- Click Save.


Expected Outcome on Execution
- The function extracts “Admin” and stores it in the variable you specified in the Element Key field (e.g., UserRole).
- This output can be referenced using ${VariableName} in later steps (e.g., ${UserRole}).
- Index positions start at 0.
- Spaces and special characters are counted when calculating index values.
- The characters at the inputStartIndex and inputEndIndex are included in the output when using Index type.