Try an AutoFilter:

Select your range of part numbers
(I'm assuming the top cell has a title like: PartNum)

Then...From the Excel Main Menu:
<data<filter<autofilter
Click on the PartNum heading drop-down
Select: Custom
Settings: Begins with: ABC
Click [OK]

That will hide all PartNum rows where the PartNum does NOT begin with "ABC"

Is that something you can work with?
Post back if you have more questions.
--------------------------

Regards,

Ron (XL2003, Win XP)
Microsoft MVP (Excel)

"Melissa" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi-

I am trying to search for the first 3 characters of a list of part
numbers. The part numbers I am trying to filter out start with the
same 3 letters, but the next 4 numbers in the part number could be
anything (ex. "ABC1234", "ABC2345").

How can I search the cells for anything containing those first three
letters?

-Melissa