Issue using STARTSWITH() on a DRAWING column

[Jake_Naude]

Hi there,

I'm unable to get STARTSWITH in a Show_If expression to respond to a DRAWING column in the same way as it responds to other columns.

I'm using the following in the Show_If:

STARTSWITH([start_pin_drawing], "installations")

The [start_pin_drawing] column contains the following:

installations_Images/02 Apr 2025 06-09-25 --- 6036.penetration_exit_pin_drawing.061210.jpg

Hope someone can shed some light on this... Cheers... 😉

[Suvrutt_Gurjar · Accepted solution]

Not tested but could you try with the following expression

STARTSWITH(CONCATENATE([start_pin_drawing], ""), "installations")

[Jake_Naude · Accepted solution]

Hi @Suvrutt_Gurjar ... Thanks for that very interesting perspective!

A slight variation of it did the trick:

STARTSWITH(CONCATENATE([start_pin_drawing], "installations"), "")

I don't understand it but it works.

Many thanks... 😎

[Suvrutt_Gurjar · Accepted solution]

Not tested but could you try with the following expression

STARTSWITH(CONCATENATE([start_pin_drawing], ""), "installations")

[Jake_Naude · Accepted solution]

Hi @Suvrutt_Gurjar ... Thanks for that very interesting perspective!

A slight variation of it did the trick:

STARTSWITH(CONCATENATE([start_pin_drawing], "installations"), "")

I don't understand it but it works.

Many thanks... 😎

[Suvrutt_Gurjar · Accepted solution]

You are welcome. Thank you for the update. Nice to know it works with a variation.

The basic idea was to make expression parser to make read the drawing column image link as a text string by using it in a CONCATENATE() function. I believe it was earlier treating it as an non text string.

The STARTSWITH() function works with text strings as the following excerpt from the help article mentions.

STARTSWITH() - AppSheet Help

[Jake_Naude]

Thanks for the explanation... It all makes sense now... Much appreciated... 👍