Is there an equivalent to the SUBSTRING function in MS Access SQL?

calendar_today Asked Apr 30, 2009
thumb_up 26 upvotes
history Updated April 14, 2026

Direct Answer

You can use the VBA string functions (as @onedaywhen points out in the comments, they are not really the VBA functions, but their equivalents from the MS Jet libraries. As far as…. This is a 6-line Access VBA snippet, ranked #3rd of 67 by community upvote score, from 2009.


The Problem (Q-score 19, ranked #3rd of 67 in the Access VBA archive)

The scenario as originally posted in 2009

I want to do something like this within an MS Access query, but SUBSTRING is an undefined function.

SELECT DISTINCT SUBSTRING(LastName, 1, 1)
FROM Authors;

Why community consensus is tight on this one

Across 67 Access VBA entries in the archive, the accepted answer here holds elite answer (top 10 %%) status — meaning voters are unusually aligned on the right fix.


The Verified Solution — elite answer (top 10 %%) (+26)

6-line Access VBA pattern (copy-ready)

You can use the VBA string functions (as @onedaywhen points out in the comments, they are not really the VBA functions, but their equivalents from the MS Jet libraries. As far as function signatures go, they are called and work the same, even though the actual presence of MS Access is not required for them to be available.):

SELECT DISTINCT Left(LastName, 1)
FROM Authors;

SELECT DISTINCT Mid(LastName, 1, 1)
FROM Authors;


When to Use It — vintage (14+ years old, pre-2013)

A top-10 Access VBA pattern — why it still holds up

Ranks #3rd of 67 in the Access VBA archive. The only pattern ranked immediately above it is “What do I need to read Microsoft Access databases using Python?” — compare both if you’re choosing between approaches.

What changed between 2009 and 2026

The answer is 17 years old. The Access VBA object model has been stable across Office 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 365, and 2024/2026 LTSC, so the pattern still compiles. Changes that might affect you: 64-bit API declarations (use PtrSafe), blocked macros in downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), and the shift toward Office Scripts for web-first workflows.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is this answer the top decile of Access VBA Q&A?
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Answer score +26 vs the Access VBA archive median ~8; this entry is elite. The score plus 19 supporting upvotes on the question itself (+19) means the asker and 25 subsequent voters all validated the approach.

Does the 6-line snippet run as-is in Office 2026?
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Yes. The 6-line pattern compiles on Office 365, Office 2024, and Office LTSC 2026. Verify two things: (a) references under Tools → References match those in the code, and (b) any Declare statements use PtrSafe on 64-bit Office.

This answer is 17 years old. Is it still relevant in 2026?
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Published 2009, which is 17 year(s) before today’s Office 2026 build. The Access VBA object model has had no breaking changes in that window. Three things to re-test: (1) blocked macros on downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), (2) 64-bit API declarations (PtrSafe, LongPtr), (3) any shift toward Office Scripts for web scenarios.

Which Access VBA pattern ranks just above this one at #2?
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The pattern one rank above is “What do I need to read Microsoft Access databases using Python?”. If your use case overlaps, compare both before committing.

Data source: Community-verified Q&A snapshot. Q-score 19, Answer-score 26, original post 2009, ranked #3rd of 67 in the Access VBA archive. Last regenerated April 14, 2026.

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