I have been using data base in spread sheets for almost 25 years, Started
with Super Calc 2.

I am using an accounting spread sheet in excel.

I want to use another sheet that adds all the amounts of particular
accounting identifiers.

The identifies are 6 text characters, I.e.. 400-10 plus a string of
characters. i.e.. 400-10 Sales-Dayton-Manufacturing.
Well as you would guess sometimes the identifier is the long on and some
times it is only the left 6 characters

I add another column and fill it with the fist 6 characters of the account
identifier column using the left function. i.e.. left(f2,6) Then I use
that column for my Dsum statement. Sometimes it picks it up and sometimes
not.

So I add two more columns and want to just the left three characters so that
I pick up 400's for test purposes. I write if (f2=400,I2,' ') in another
column but it doesn't recognize 400 which I can plainly see. Since the left
function is a text function I suspect 400 is a text function but I think the
if function should still work.

Please help me!
charles
937 836 3272