Others have already commented on why you can't use the simple formula you
offered.

Here's a slimmed down version of what you posted

IF(OR(OR(LEFT($D5,2)={"27","02"}),OR(LEFT($D5,3)={ "621","623","624","626","627","628","629","215","2 21","638","187"}),OR(LEFT($D5,4)={"1820","1821","1 822","1823","1824","1825"})),LEFT($D5,3),IF(LEFT($ D5,2)="22",LEFT($D5,5),IF(OR($D5={"121020","122101 ","122102"}),"1221",IF(OR($D5={"121001","121002"," 121009","121010","121012"}),"1210CT",IF(OR($D5={"1 21008","121003","121004","121005","121006","121007 "}),"1210CC",IF(OR($D5={"121014","121015"}),"1210C F",IF(OR($D5={"651109","651110"}),"6511CIO",LEFT($ D5,4))))))))

NOT CLOSELY CHECKED

"GerryK" wrote:

Could someone tell me if running this formula:
IF(OR(LEFT($D5,2)="27",LEFT($D5,2)="02",LEFT($D5,3 )="621",LEFT($D5,3)="623",LEFT($D5,3)="624",LEFT($ D5,3)="626",LEFT($D5,3)="627",LEFT($D5,3)="628",LE FT($D5,3)="629",LEFT($D5,3)="215",LEFT($D5,3)="221 ",LEFT($D5,3)="638",LEFT($D5,4)="1820",LEFT($D5,4) ="1821",LEFT($D5,4)="1822",LEFT($D5,4)="1823",LEFT ($D5,4)="1824",LEFT($D5,4)="1825",LEFT($D5,3)="187 "),LEFT($D5,3),IF(LEFT($D5,2)="22",LEFT($D5,5),IF( OR($D5="121020",$D5="122101",$D5="122102"),"1221", IF(OR($D5="121001",$D5="121002",$D5="121009",$D5=" 121010",$D5="121012"),"1210CT",IF(OR($D5="121008", $D5="121003",$D5="121004",$D5="121005",$D5="121006 ",$D5="121007"),"1210CC",IF(OR($D5="121014",$D5="1 21015"),"1210CF",IF(OR($D5="651109",$D5="651110"), "6511CIO",LEFT($D5,4))))))))

along side:
=LEFT(D5,4) is any different?

I get the same result and am not quite sure why someone would write the
first. Before I change it to the simpler one I would appreciate any advice as
to what the first may be calculating that I am missing?

TIA