# REPEAT\$1STRING
<a name="recipe-actions.functions.REPEAT"></a>

Repeats the strings in the source column or custom input value a specified number of times, and returns the result in a new column.

**Parameters**
+ `sourceColumn` – The name of an existing column.
+ `value` – A character string to evaluate.
+ `count` – The number of times to repeat the string.
+ `targetColumn` – The name of the new column to be created.

**Note**  
You can specify either `sourceColumn` or `value`, but not both.

**Examples**  
  

```
{
    "RecipeAction": {
        "Operation": "REPEAT_STRING",
        "Parameters": {
            "count": 3,
            "sourceColumn": "last_name",
            "targetColumn": "last_name_repeat_string"
        }
    }
}
```
  

```
{
    "RecipeAction": {
        "Operation": "REPEAT_STRING",
        "Parameters": {
            "count": 80,
            "value": "*",
            "targetColumn": "80_stars"
        }
    }
}
```