Function in query

[C Curry]

This problem is for Access97 running under Windows98.

I created the following column in a select query:

DivNumber:Mid([tArea].[AreaNumber],1,1)

I get the following error message when I try to run the
query:

Function isn't available in expressions in query
expression 'Mid([tArea].[AreaNumber],1,1)'.

This query is based on a table named tArea that has 2
columns:

AreaNumber - text, fieldsize=4
AreaName - text, fieldsize=50

I went into Help and they show examples using Left, Right,
and Mid functions in queries.

Anybody know why my example won't work?

Thanks to anyone who can help me.