---
title: "Using String Functions | Microsoft Docs"
ms.date: 06/04/2018
ms.prod: sql
ms.technology: analysis-services
ms.custom: mdx
ms.topic: reference
ms.author: owend
ms.reviewer: owend
author: minewiskan
---
# Using String Functions


  You can use string functions on nearly every object in Multidimensional Expressions (MDX). In stored procedures, you use string functions primarily to convert the object to a string representation. You also use string functions to evaluate a string expression over an object in order to return a value.  
  
 The most widely used string functions are **Name** and **Uniquename**. Respectively, these functions return the name and unique name of an object. Mostly, they are used when debugging calculations to discover what member a function is returning.  
  
## Examples  
 The following example queries show how to use these functions:  
  
 `WITH`  
  
 `//Returns the name of the current Product on rows`  
  
 `MEMBER [Measures].[ProductName] AS [Product].[Product].CurrentMember.Name`  
  
 `//Returns the uniquename of the current Product on rows`  
  
 `MEMBER [Measures].[ProductUniqueName] AS [Product].[Product].CurrentMember.Uniquename`  
  
 `//Returns the name of the Product dimension`  
  
 `MEMBER [Measures].[ProductDimensionName] AS [Product].Name`  
  
 `SELECT  {[Measures].[ProductName],[Measures].[ProductUniqueName],[Measures].[ProductDimensionName]}`  
  
 `ON COLUMNS,`  
  
 `[Product].[Product].MEMBERS  ON ROWS`  
  
 `FROM [Adventure Works]`  
  
 The **Generate** function can be used to execute a string function on every member of a set and concatenate the results. This also can be useful when debugging calculations as it allows you to visualize the contents of a set. The following example shows how to use it in this way:  
  
 `WITH`  
  
 `//Returns the names of the current Product and its ancestors up to the All Member`  
  
 `MEMBER [Measures].[AncestorNames] AS`  
  
 `GENERATE(`  
  
 `ASCENDANTS([Product].[Product Categories].CurrentMember)`  
  
 `, [Product].[Product Categories].CurrentMember.Name, ", ")`  
  
 `SELECT`  
  
 `{[Measures].[AncestorNames]}`  
  
 `ON COLUMNS,`  
  
 `[Product].[Product Categories].MEMBERS  ON ROWS`  
  
 `FROM [Adventure Works]`  
  
 Another group of widely used string functions are those that enable you to cast a string containing the uniquename of an object or an expression which resolves to the object into the object itself. The following example query demonstrates how the **StrToMember** and **StrToSet** functions do this:  
  
 `SELECT`  
  
 `{StrToMember("[Measures].[Inter" + "net Sales Amount]")}`  
  
 `ON COLUMNS,`  
  
 `StrToSet("{`  
  
 `[Product].[Product Categories].[Category].&[3],`  
  
 `[Product].[Product Categories].[Product].&[477],`  
  
 `[Product].[Product Categories].[Product].&[788],`  
  
 `[Product].[Product Categories].[Product].&[708],`  
  
 `[Product].[Product Categories].[Product].&[711]`  
  
 `}")`  
  
 `ON ROWS`  
  
 `FROM [Adventure Works]`  
  
> [!NOTE]  
>  The **StrToMember** and **StrToSet** functions should be used with caution. They can lead to poor query performance if they are used within calculation definitions.  
  
## See Also  
 [Generate (MDX)](../mdx/generate-mdx.md)   
 [Name (MDX)](../mdx/name-mdx.md)   
 [UniqueName (MDX)](../mdx/uniquename-mdx.md)   
 [Functions (MDX Syntax)](../mdx/functions-mdx-syntax.md)   
 [Using Stored Procedures (MDX)](../mdx/using-stored-procedures-mdx.md)   
 [StrToMember (MDX)](../mdx/strtomember-mdx.md)   
 [StrToSet (MDX)](../mdx/strtoset-mdx.md)