Ok, use the formulas just like I suggested, then add the following steps:

Copy columns Y and Z
While still selecting Y and Z, "Paste Special"
Select "Values" from the dialog box
Click OK

Y and Z now no longer contain formulas and you can delete column B if needed.

HTH,
Elkar


"useR" wrote:

That works fine for copy/paste, but what I need is a cut/paste result. That
is, the 1st 14 char and the last 14 char cannot remain in column B.

Thanks,
R

"Elkar" wrote:

In cell Y1 enter the formula:

=left(b1,14)

In cell Z1 enter the formula:

=right(b1,14)

Copy the formulas down as needed.

HTH,
Elkar


"useR" wrote:

How to edit column B in spreadsheet so that the 1st 14 characters in the
string is cut/pasted to column Y, and the last 14 characters in the string is
cut/pasted to column Z? Need to apply such an edit to all cells in column B.

Spreadsheet is A1:Pxxxx (approx 3000 rows). All cells in column B contain a
character string that represents 'model number - description label - part
number'. String varies in length due to description label differences,
however model number and part number are always 14 characters each. Cell
format is general.

MS Office Excel 2003, SP1
MS Windows XP Professional 5.1, SP 2, build 2600

Thanks for your help,
R