How do you use the replace formula to strip spaces and characters from a phone number before a WhatsApp automation?

In Jestor, the replace formula lets you substitute spaces, plus signs, and dashes with nothing inside a text field, which is especially useful for cleaning up phone numbers before using them in WhatsApp automations.

How the replace formula works

The formula works by substituting a specific piece of text with something else — including nothing, which effectively removes that character. In the case of phone numbers, it's common for people to type them with spaces, dashes, or a plus sign before the country code; using replace, you can strip out each of those characters before sending the number to an automation, ensuring the format stays clean and compatible.

Character to remove	Using replace
Space	Replaces the space with nothing, joining the number together
Plus sign (+)	Removes the symbol before the country code
Dash (-)	Removes separators used when typing the number

How to set up the replace formula

Create a formula field in the table where the phone number is stored.
Use the replace function to substitute spaces, dashes, and plus signs with nothing.
Use this already-cleaned field as the phone number source in the WhatsApp automation.
Apply the same logic to other text fields that need cleanup before an automation.

Why choose Jestor

More reliable WhatsApp automations: numbers arrive standardized, reducing sending failures.
A versatile formula: replace can also help with ID generation or cleaning up other text fields.
No dependence on external tools: the data cleanup happens right inside Jestor's own table.

Does replace only work for phone numbers?

No, it can be used to clean up any kind of text, such as when generating IDs or cleaning other fields.

Do you need a separate formula field to use replace?

Yes, the formula is applied inside a dedicated formula field, which can then be referenced in your automations.

Does replace only remove one type of character at a time?

Each application of the formula handles one specific substitution; to remove several types of characters, you can chain multiple replaces together as needed.

Reference video

Check out more hands-on tutorials on the Jestor YouTube channel.

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