# How to write a formula to get text length in a Math column?
**URL:** https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-write-a-formula-to-get-text-length-in-a-math-column/82574
**Category:** Ask for Help
**Created:** [June 18, 2025, 7:53am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-write-a-formula-to-get-text-length-in-a-math-column/82574 "2025-06-18T07:53:44Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ttss3131](https://community.glideapps.com/u/ttss3131)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2025, 7:53am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-write-a-formula-to-get-text-length-in-a-math-column/82574/1 "2025-06-18T07:53:44Z")
Hello. I am a user from Japan developing an app with Glide. I have a problem I can’t solve while implementing an “AND search” feature and was hoping for your help.
**My Goal:** I am trying to create an “AND search” feature where a user selects multiple ingredients (e.g., “Pork”, “Onion”), and only recipes containing **all** of those selected ingredients are displayed.
**The Problem:** To achieve this, I first need to check if a helper column is empty or not. I tried to do this by counting the number of characters in that column using a `Math` column.
My helper column is a Template column named `ユーザー選択1_テキスト`.
When I enter the formula `LEN(ユーザー選択1_テキスト)` in the Math column, I get the following error: `Around "ー選択1_テキス": There should be a "," or a ")"`
(Please see the attached screenshot for the error.)
**My Question:** In the `Math` column, what is the **correct current syntax/formula in Glide to count the number of characters in another column** (in this case, `ユーザー選択1_テキスト`)?
Thank you for your help.
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### Author:  [@Darren\_Murphy](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Darren_Murphy)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2025, 7:59am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-write-a-formula-to-get-text-length-in-a-math-column/82574/2 "2025-06-18T07:59:14Z")
> [@ttss3131](#):
>
> **My Goal:** I am trying to create an “AND search” feature where a user selects multiple ingredients (e.g., “Pork”, “Onion”), and only recipes containing **all** of those selected ingredients are displayed.
>
> **The Problem:** To achieve this, I first need to check if a helper column is empty or not. I tried to do this by counting the number of characters in that column using a `Math` column.
Let me first say that you appear to be approaching this in a very roundabout way. The normal way to do this would be to first create an array from the selection using a Split Text column, and then use that as a filter - either by creating a relation, or by using `contains` in an if-then-else column.
However, I’ll ignore that for now and directly answer your question…
> [@ttss3131](#):
>
> **My Question:** In the `Math` column, what is the **correct current syntax/formula in Glide to count the number of characters in another column** (in this case, `ユーザー選択1_テキスト`)?
Don’t use a Math column. Instead, use a Text Length column.
Also…
> [@ttss3131](#):
>
> To achieve this, I first need to check if a helper column is empty or not. I tried to do this by counting the number of characters in that column using a `Math` column.
You can directly check if a column is empty or not with an if-then-else column. You don’t need to check the number of characters.
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### Author:  [@ttss3131](https://community.glideapps.com/u/ttss3131)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2025, 11:13am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-write-a-formula-to-get-text-length-in-a-math-column/82574/3 "2025-06-18T11:13:55Z")
Thank you so much for your quick and accurate response! Your advice, especially that I can directly check if the `Single Value` column `is empty` in the If-Then-Else column, was the key. I had created many unnecessary helper columns.
By simplifying the logic as you suggested, I was able to solve the problem perfectly. Thank you again!
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### Author:  [@system](https://community.glideapps.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2025, 11:13am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-write-a-formula-to-get-text-length-in-a-math-column/82574/4 "2025-06-25T11:13:59Z")
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