Formula to delete rightmost N characters
I have some cell containing text of various lengths. I'd like to delete the
rightmost 5 characters of each cell. What comes to mind is LEFT(A1, LEN(A1) - 5). Is there a simpler way? I'm using Excel 2005. Thanks. |
Formula to delete rightmost N characters
Your formula looks almost perfect to me. Only thing I'd change is make it:
=LEFT(A1,MAX(0,LEN(A1)-5)) In case any of your text is less than 5 characters in length. -- Best Regards, Luke M *Remember to click "yes" if this post helped you!* "Eric_NY" wrote: I have some cell containing text of various lengths. I'd like to delete the rightmost 5 characters of each cell. What comes to mind is LEFT(A1, LEN(A1) - 5). Is there a simpler way? I'm using Excel 2005. Thanks. |
Formula to delete rightmost N characters
Thanks.
I sometimes wish Excel had a more complete set of functions. It's typically possible to manipulate existing functions to do what's needed, but it's sometimes more difficult or convoluted than necessary. Whenever I see a formula where the same value appears twice (like A1 in LEFT(A1, LEN(A1) - 5) ), it seems somehow un-aesthetic or at least un-economical. It's not so bad if the duplicated text is short, like A1, but I often find myself repeating lengthy sub-formulas because the function I really want is missing. For example, what's needed here is a function such as LOPOFFRIGHT(A1,5), which lops off the rightmost 5 characters. Obviously a similar LOPOFFLEFT function. Someday I'll teach myself VBA so I can write these formulas myself. Anyway, thanks for your help. "Luke M" wrote: Your formula looks almost perfect to me. Only thing I'd change is make it: =LEFT(A1,MAX(0,LEN(A1)-5)) In case any of your text is less than 5 characters in length. -- Best Regards, Luke M *Remember to click "yes" if this post helped you!* "Eric_NY" wrote: I have some cell containing text of various lengths. I'd like to delete the rightmost 5 characters of each cell. What comes to mind is LEFT(A1, LEN(A1) - 5). Is there a simpler way? I'm using Excel 2005. Thanks. |
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