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SUBSTITUTE

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Applies to: Calculated column Calculated table Measure Visual calculation

Replaces existing text with new text in a text string.

Syntax

SUBSTITUTE(<text>, <old_text>, <new_text>, <instance_num>)

Parameters

Term Definition
text The text in which you want to substitute characters, or a reference to a column containing text.
old_text The existing text that you want to replace.
new_text The text you want to replace old_text with.
instance_num (optional) The occurrence of old_text you want to replace. If omitted, every instance of old_text is replaced

Return value

A string of text.

Remarks

  • Use the SUBSTITUTE function when you want to replace specific text in a text string; use the REPLACE function when you want to replace any text of variable length that occurs in a specific location in a text string.

  • The SUBSTITUTE function is case-sensitive. If case does not match between text and old_text, SUBSTITUTE will not replace the text.

  • This function is not supported for use in DirectQuery mode when used in calculated columns or row-level security (RLS) rules.

Example: Substitution within a String

The following formula creates a copy of the column [Product Code] that substitutes the new product code NW for the old product code PA wherever it occurs in the column.

= SUBSTITUTE([Product Code], "NW", "PA")

Related content

Text functions
REPLACE