https://community.blueprism.com/t5/Product-Forum/What-is-the-best-way-to-use-text-expression-left-right-in/m-p/68950#M21555 Hi anshbat, the exact syntax of left or right is as follows Left([Message], 3) = ""FOO"" or Right([Message], 3) = ""FOO"" and they output True or False. If you have a decision stage (the diamond stage) and you put one of these statements in, it should work for you then. Left([Data1],3) = ""CON"" Should be the context you are looking for. You don't need to write 'if' in the stage either, just the text above. Then connect the decision stage to the Yes/No stages you want them connected to. Fri, 03 Nov 2017 19:42:00 GMT DexterWhelan1 2017-11-03T19:42:00Z https://community.blueprism.com/t5/Product-Forum/What-is-the-best-way-to-use-text-expression-left-right-in/m-p/68947#M21552 Consider a data item of type text called "Data1" ; Data1=Continent I want to use a decision and choice stage If( left(Data1,3)) = Con - then take Yes path else No --THROWS ERROR INCORRECT USE OF FUNCTIONS; Same for choice. check for if(left(Data1,3) is equal to Con - then choice 1 stage if(left(Data1,3) is equal to Nen - then choice 2 stage etc Please suggest the right syntax to use text expressions in decision and choice stage Mon, 11 Sep 2017 11:03:00 GMT https://community.blueprism.com/t5/Product-Forum/What-is-the-best-way-to-use-text-expression-left-right-in/m-p/68947#M21552 AnshulBhatia 2017-09-11T11:03:00Z https://community.blueprism.com/t5/Product-Forum/What-is-the-best-way-to-use-text-expression-left-right-in/m-p/68948#M21553 This seem to work for me: Expression in decision stage: Left([Data1]; 3) = ""Con"" - then connect the ""Yes"" and ""No"" paths Note that function names are case sensitive and strings needs to be enclosed in quotes. Mon, 11 Sep 2017 12:11:00 GMT https://community.blueprism.com/t5/Product-Forum/What-is-the-best-way-to-use-text-expression-left-right-in/m-p/68948#M21553 OlaNykvist 2017-09-11T12:11:00Z https://community.blueprism.com/t5/Product-Forum/What-is-the-best-way-to-use-text-expression-left-right-in/m-p/68949#M21554 I don't think blueprism support if-function like you wrote. 1. Take a ""Decision"" block where you want it to me 2. Open and write: Left([Data1]; 3) = ""Con"" 3. Choose where Yes and No go. Remember that BP don't support to write function in Decision block (as I'm aware of) Mon, 11 Sep 2017 12:20:00 GMT https://community.blueprism.com/t5/Product-Forum/What-is-the-best-way-to-use-text-expression-left-right-in/m-p/68949#M21554 Christer_Tellefsen 2017-09-11T12:20:00Z https://community.blueprism.com/t5/Product-Forum/What-is-the-best-way-to-use-text-expression-left-right-in/m-p/68950#M21555 Hi anshbat, the exact syntax of left or right is as follows Left([Message], 3) = ""FOO"" or Right([Message], 3) = ""FOO"" and they output True or False. If you have a decision stage (the diamond stage) and you put one of these statements in, it should work for you then. Left([Data1],3) = ""CON"" Should be the context you are looking for. You don't need to write 'if' in the stage either, just the text above. Then connect the decision stage to the Yes/No stages you want them connected to. Fri, 03 Nov 2017 19:42:00 GMT https://community.blueprism.com/t5/Product-Forum/What-is-the-best-way-to-use-text-expression-left-right-in/m-p/68950#M21555 DexterWhelan1 2017-11-03T19:42:00Z https://community.blueprism.com/t5/Product-Forum/What-is-the-best-way-to-use-text-expression-left-right-in/m-p/68951#M21556 There is no IF in a BP expression, the Decision stage itself is the IF statement. Mon, 06 Nov 2017 13:59:00 GMT https://community.blueprism.com/t5/Product-Forum/What-is-the-best-way-to-use-text-expression-left-right-in/m-p/68951#M21556 John__Carter 2017-11-06T13:59:00Z