The end purpose is to know how many digits are left. I am breaking apart the
data so for the example, 50323113211, I know that 503 can be removed due to a
series of calculations prior. I have set it up so that I know, initially,
what exactly needs to be taken out. With that said, I am then left with
23113211. Now, from there, I need to lookup from a database, if any of the
numbers exist. So in that database, there may be 23, 25, 56, 178. In this
case, it searches and finds that 23 matches, so it then pulls it out and
leaves me with 1134211 and then I count the number of digits, 7. Now, this is
they key for me, since I am trying to verify this. I hope this clears some
things up.

JLatham, I will take a look at the excel file you had created and see if
that helps me do what I need to. Thanks.

"JLatham" wrote:

I worked up some formulas to strictly deal with the problem as I interpreted
it earlier. You can see the approach I took in this workbook:
http://www.jlathamsite.com/uploads/BreakItDown.xls
although I don't think that's going to be a practical solution for the
50,000 entry problem? I'm betting that there are going to be 40000+
combinations to deal with <g and that makes things really tough.

It's possible that a coding solution might work, but as Pete_UK has
accurately stated: more definition of how things work is really needed.

"Pete_UK" wrote:

I don't see what rules you are applying to get your derived numbers.
How do you know that 503 has to be removed (leaving 8 digits) or 1 in
your second example (leaving 6 digits)? You say "... in the next cell I
am told I need to pull the 1 ..." - who tells you?

Please try to describe your problem more accurately - what do you have
in terms of columns used and values in them and what do you want to
achieve from these values?

Pete

A. S. wrote:
I need to extract some data from a cell please let me know any suggestion you
may have for a formula.

Right now in a cell I have the number 50323113211. In a database I have...I
know that the number that needs to be extracted from this particular number
is 503. What formula can I use to extract this so that the 23113211 remains?
I have a list of 50,000 entries and the number varies. So in another cell i
may have 1342234 and in the next cell I am told I need to pull the 1 so that
the 343324 remains.

Now once the first part of this is done... I need from database range to
pull out the number it finds. So for example, let's say for the example of
23113211, there is a range in cells that has for example 23, 24, 25, 26. I
then need this range to be checked with the 23113211 and then pull out the
match. So in this case it finds that 23 is the match and then pulls it out
and leaves me with 113211. I know this is omplicated and confusing. Any
thoughts? Thanks.