For this, use the concept of LEFT() function. Let us first create a table −
mysql> create table DemoTable2036 -> ( -> FirstLetter varchar(20), -> Title varchar(20) -> ); Query OK, 0 rows affected (1.01 sec)
Insert some records in the table using insert command −
mysql> insert into DemoTable2036(Title) values('Chris'); Query OK, 1 row affected (0.14 sec) mysql> insert into DemoTable2036(Title) values('John'); Query OK, 1 row affected (0.10 sec) mysql> insert into DemoTable2036(Title) values('Adam'); Query OK, 1 row affected (0.15 sec)
Display all records from the table using select statement −
mysql> select *from DemoTable2036;
This will produce the following output −
+-------------+-------+ | FirstLetter | Title | +-------------+-------+ | NULL | Chris | | NULL | John | | NULL | Adam | +-------------+-------+ 3 rows in set (0.00 sec)
Following is the query to fetch the first letter of a column value and place it to another column −
mysql> update DemoTable2036 -> set FirstLetter=left(Title,1); Query OK, 3 rows affected (0.23 sec) Rows matched: 3 Changed: 3 Warnings: 0
Let us check the table records once again −
mysql> select *from DemoTable2036;
This will produce the following output −
+-------------+-------+ | FirstLetter | Title | +-------------+-------+ | C | Chris | | J | John | | A | Adam | +-------------+-------+ 3 rows in set (0.00 sec)