Create a Delimited String of LookupIDs

Use this article to create a string of LookupIDs separated by semicolons. This technique can be used for creating strings of other values for other applications too (e.g. string of email addresses, system IDs, EmplIDs, etc).

What does it do?

Use these steps to create a string of lookupIDs to be used in Business Objects report prompts.

Why is this done?

Some reports in Business Objects require the user to supply a semicolon delimited string of lookupIDs in order to run the report.

(e.g. 132456;789456;465789;645321)

What Steps are Required

1. Whether starting with a MS Word Doc, Google Doc, Excel Sheet, or Google Sheet, copy the desired lookupIDs to your clipboard (ctrl + c). 
2. Open a new blank MS Word doc.
3. With your lookupIDs on your clipboard, paste special by using the ctrl + alt + v keyboard shortcut.
4. Select Unformatted Unicode Text from the dialog box and click OK. 
5. In the new Word doc where you just pasted your unformatted lookupIDs, select all of your lookupIDs using ctrl + a. 
6. Perform a find / replace using crtl + h.
   1. Find what: ^p
   2. Replace with: ;  (if you are trying to create a comma separated list, use the , as your "replace with" value). 
7.   If you get a dialog box pop up asking to search the rest of the document, click No. (if you click yes, it won't matter since you already had all of your LookupIDs selected to begin with)
8. Note the extra semicolon at the end of your string, DELETE this before copying the string to your clipboard. 
9. After deleting the extra semicolon at the end of your string, select your whole string using ctrl + a.
10. You are now ready to paste your lookupIDs into Business Objects or the desired application.