How to split this string into 4 sections to a max 35 characters

Question

Hello,
Does anyone have an idea how I can acheive this please.
I have this string
Expense_Inv_8- ExpenseInv_7- Exp001- Expense_Inv_6- Expense_Inv_5- Expense_Inv_4- Expense_Inv_3- Expense_Inv_2- Expense_inv1
and I need to display them in sections seperated by ';' as explained below
Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4
Expense_Inv_8- ExpenseInv_7- Exp001;Expense_Inv_6- Expense_Inv_5;Expense_Inv_4- Expense_Inv_3;Expense_Inv_2;
need to split this string into 4 sections seperated by ';' and each section should be of no more than 35 characters, if null should end ;;;
Section 1, 35 Character ended by;
Section 2, broken off after Expense_Inv_5 because Expense_Inv_4 will take it over 35 chracters)
Section 3, should only take Expense_Inv_4- Expense_Inv_3, because adding Expense_Inv_2 will take it over 35
characters, each record in the string is seperated by '-'
Section 4, dispays the reminder of the string
regards
Ade

Answer 1

Hi,
Welcome to the forum!
Whenever you ask a question, it helps if you post a little sample data (CREATE TABLE and INSERT statements, relevant columns only) and the results you want from that data.
I think I understand the problemk well enough to attempt a solution, but if the query below isn't right, please post that information.
WITH     cntr     AS
     SELECT     LEVEL     AS n
     FROM     dual
     CONNECT BY     LEVEL     <= ( SELECT  MAX (LENGTH (txt))
                         FROM    table_x
,     got_best_path     AS
     SELECT     id
     ,     txt
     ,     MAX ( SYS_CONNECT_BY_PATH ( TO_CHAR (c.n, '99')
                  ) AS best_path
     FROM     cntr     c
     JOIN     table_x     x     ON     c.n <= LENGTH (x.txt)
     START WITH     c.n     = 1
     CONNECT BY     c.n - PRIOR c.n     BETWEEN  1
                             AND      :section_length
          AND     x.id          = PRIOR     x.id
          AND     SUBSTR ( x.txt
                             , c.n
                             , 1
                             )     = '-'
     AND     LEVEL          <= :section_cnt
     GROUP BY  id
     ,            txt
,     got_pos     AS
     SELECT     id
     ,     REPLACE ( txt
               ) || ';'                         AS txt
     ,     best_path
     ,     TO_NUMBER (REGEXP_SUBSTR (best_path, '[0-9]+', 1, 2))     AS pos_2
     ,     TO_NUMBER (REGEXP_SUBSTR (best_path, '[0-9]+', 1, 3))     AS pos_3
     ,     TO_NUMBER (REGEXP_SUBSTR (best_path, '[0-9]+', 1, 4))     AS pos_4
     FROM     got_best_path
SELECT  id
,     SUBSTR (txt,     1    , NVL ( pos_2         , :section_length))     AS section_1
,     SUBSTR (txt, pos_2 + 1, NVL ((pos_3 - pos_2), :section_length))     AS section_2
,     SUBSTR (txt, pos_3 + 1, NVL ((pos_4 - pos_3), :section_length))     AS section_3
,     SUBSTR (txt, pos_4 + 1,                        :section_length )     AS section_4
FROM     got_pos
;As written, this requires SQL*Plus 9 (or higher). You can have multiple versions or SQL*Plus on the same client, if you really need to keep the older version.
:section_length is the maximum length of each section (35, as you stated the problem).
:section_cnt is the number of sections. In the query above, this is 4. If you change it, you not only have to change the bind variable, but you have to change the hard-coded SELECT clauses of the main query and the last sub-query (that is, got_pos).
MODEL or PL/SQL would probably be better ways to solve this problem.