You could convert your numbers to text to allow the leading zero but why not
just modify your formula something like this...

=IF(LEN(A1)=5,LEFT(A1,3),LEFT(A1,2))
--
HTH...

Jim Thomlinson


"JG" wrote:

I have a cell with a 5 digit number 12345. I use the left function to
separate the first 3 numbers (123) and the right function to separate
the right 2 numbers (45). 99.99% of the time the left three numbers
will be from 100 to 600. As unlikely as it would be there could be a
time that it would look like 9901. I thought I could enter in the
number like 09901 but excel does not like this. The way I am doing it
now 9901 would be seen like 990 not the 99 that I need. Is there a way
to format a cell so Excel will add the 0 to the left so the left
function will work.

Thanks for all your help.......Again
JG