# mv_to_string({multivalue_column_name}, \[{delimeter}])

Converts multivalue fields to string fields.

`MV_TO_STRING()` takes this syntax.

`MV_TO_STRING({multivalue_column_name}, {delimeter})`- multivalue_column_name

```
- : Name of the multivalue field to be converted to a string.
```

- delimiter

  - : Optional. The characters used to delimit values in the converted string. Maximum length is 2 characters.

Returns an alphabetically sorted, delimited string representation of a multivalue field. The default delimiter is a comma followed by a space (`,`).

You can’t use `MV_TO_STRING()` in a `WHERE` or `GROUP BY` clause. Use it in the `SELECT` statement only. If you run `MV_TO_STRING()` on single-value dimensions or on unindexed multivalue dimensions, the function returns a single value.

:::note
To enable multivalue fields, you must select the **Enable indexing of multivalue fields** in CRM Analytics preference in Setup. If you run `MV_TO_STRING()` without the preference selected, the function returns the first value in the first field only.

1. From Settings, in the Quick Find box, enter `Analytics`, and then select **Settings** from the list of Analytics options.
2. In Settings, select **Enable indexing of multivalue fields in CRM Analytics**.

![Image of checkbox to enable mv_to_string function in Settings](https://a.sfdcstatic.com/developer-website/sfdocs/analytics/media/bi_dev_guide_sql/bi_sql_enable_mv.png)
:::

## Simple Example

This query converts the multivalue field `flight_attendants` to a string and returns values that contain the name “maria.”

```nolang
SELECT MV_TO_STRING(flight_attendants) as Flight_Attendants
FROM "FlightsWithNullDim"
WHERE "flight_attendants" IN ('maria')
```

| Flight_Attendants               |
| ------------------------------- |
| kate, maria, mark, martin, sara |
| maria, sarah                    |
| kate, maria, mark, martin, sara |
| maria, sarah                    |
| kate, maria, mark, martin, sara |
| maria, sarah                    |

## Example with Custom Delimeter

This query returns all values of the `flight_classes` field and delimits them with “`;;`”.

```nolang
SELECT MV_TO_STRING(flight_classes, ';;') as Flight_Classes
FROM "FlightsWithNullDim"
LIMIT 10;

```

| Flight_Classes           |
| ------------------------ |
| business;;economy        |
| business;;economy;;first |
| business;;economy        |
| business;;economy        |
| business;;economy        |
| business;;economy;;first |
| business;;economy        |
| business;;economy        |
| business;;economy        |
| business;;economy;;first |

## Example with Grouping

The custom delimeter example returns two result values: business;;economy and business;;economy;;first. Let's group by the `flight_classes` field and display the counts for each of these values. Since `MV_TO_STRING()` throws an error if included in a `GROUP BY` statement, we can nest the `SELECT` statement containing `MV_TO_STRING()` as a subquery and group the results in the outer query.

```nolang
SELECT Flight_Classes, count() as cnt
FROM (
    SELECT MV_TO_STRING(flight_classes, ';;') as Flight_Classes
    FROM "FlightsWithNullDim"
)
GROUP BY Flight_Classes;
```

| Flight_Classes           | cnt |
| ------------------------ | --- |
| business;;economy        | 18  |
| business;;economy;;first | 6   |