LOL - Ok let me try and retain at least a tad of dignity by picking you up
on a syntax error Harlan :-)

Missing paren before -64 and no need for the arg in the LEFT function <g

=--((CODE(UPPER(LEFT(A1)))-64)&MID(A1,2,1024))

--
Regards
Ken....................... Microsoft MVP - Excel
Sys Spec - Win XP Pro / XL 97/00/02/03

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It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission :-)
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"Harlan Grove" wrote in message
...
"ezu" wrote...
In EXCEL XP PRO I am trying to write a formula to convert cells
containing
a letter to a number and am having little success. i.e. A1005 to 11005
or B1273 to 21273.

If only the initial character would be nonnumeric, and only A-I, they you
could try

=--((CODE(UPPER(LEFT(x,1))-64)&MID(x,2,1024))