Another way you can do it from the way listed above is to do something similar to the following:

Dim test As String = Microsoft.VisualBasic.Left( str as string, length as Integer)

Dim test As String = Microsoft.VisualBasic.Right( str as string, length as Integer)

Dim test As String = Microsoft.VisualBasic.Mid(str as string, Start as Integer, Length as Integer)

Just providing another avenue of attack. Hope it helps