How to separate multiple pieces of text using StringSplit()

This article explains what the StringSplit() function is and provides examples of how it can be used with the binding syntax in smart templates.

What is the StringSplit() function?

StringSplit() is a function that separates text with a separator in between into multiple pieces. 

StringSplit() logic

StringSplit() function examples

Example 1

Using the StringSplit() function to swap the first name and last name (and remove the comma) of the user profile when the input is '<Last name>, <First name>'.

On the Template tab the binding looks like this:

Example 2

Using the StringSplit() function to create a bulleted list. The input is a fixed number of values.

1. On the Form tab create a form field of Type Text named 'Color'.
   
2. In the template insert a bullet and a placeholder '[Color]'. Select the placeholder:
   
   
3. On the Template tab click + Add smart field. Go to Form responses and select 'Color' . In the Advanced section create the binding {{StringSplit(", ", Form.Color)[0]}} in the Binding field.
4. Press Enter to go to the next line and create the binding {{StringSplit(", ", Form.Color)[1]}}.
5. On the next line create the binding {{StringSplit(", ", Form.Color)[3]}}.
6. On the next line create the binding {{StringSplit(", ", Form.Color)[2]}}.
   The result looks like this:
   
7. Save the template and upload it to the Admin Center.
8. Now when a user creates a document and types 'red, green, blue, orange' as value (note that the values are separated by a comma), the result will be a bulleted list like this:
   
   Note that the output is 'red, green, orange, blue'. This is because the order of the index numbers used in the bindings is [0], [1], [3], [2], not [0], [1], [2], [3]!

Example 3

Using the StringSplit() function to create a bulleted list. The input is a variable number of values.

In this example the values are inserted using a HostSystem binding, from a file with comma separated values (CSV).

1. In the template insert a bullet and a placeholder '[Color]'. Select the placeholder:
   
2. On the Template tab click + Add smart field and select Custom repeating group.
3. In the Collection Expression field create the binding {{StringSplit(";", HostSystem.Color)}}. The result looks like this:
   
4. Click Add to template.
5. On the Developer tab in the Office ribbon enable Design Mode:
   
   
6. In the template select the placeholder text '[Color]':
   
7. On the Template tab click + Add smart field and select Custom text binding.
8. In the Binding field create the binding {{CurrentItem}}. The result looks like this:
   
9. Click Add to template. The result looks like this:
   
10. Save the template and upload it to the Admin Center.
11. Now when a user creates a document the result looks like this:
    

    Binding	{{StringSplit(";", HostSystem.Color)}}
    Input	HostSystem.Color = "red;green;blue"	HostSystem.Color = "red;green;blue;orange;yellow;purple"
    Output