How about the LEFT?

=LEFT(A1,14)

HTH,
Elkar


"LAndersen" wrote:

i need to cut the first 14 characters from a text string - for instance I
need to return "E-100-250-4332" from "E-100-250-4332 Rental Expense". I
can't use the function "Right" as the right part of the cell is a variable
number of characters.

Thanks for your help!!!