trying to set up a file with information for electronic transfer of data.
The columns needs to be set at specific width, so I need to be able to add
spaces before text, i.e. " left". Is there a way to do this without
having to manually add spaces?

Not sure what this has to do with the width of the column, but if you need
the cell to contain a certain number of characters, say 30, you could try
something like this:

=REPT(" ", 30 - LEN(B8)) & B8

You may want to use a helper column and then afterwards do a copy/paste
special values.
If you just need the column width to be a certain number, select the column,
and hit format column width and type the number you need it to be.

--
Kevin Vaughn


"grammy" wrote:

trying to set up a file with information for electronic transfer of data.
The columns needs to be set at specific width, so I need to be able to add
spaces before text, i.e. " left". Is there a way to do this without
having to manually add spaces?

Thanks, this is exactly what I needed.

"Kevin Vaughn" wrote:

Not sure what this has to do with the width of the column, but if you need
the cell to contain a certain number of characters, say 30, you could try
something like this:

=REPT(" ", 30 - LEN(B8)) & B8

You may want to use a helper column and then afterwards do a copy/paste
special values.
If you just need the column width to be a certain number, select the column,
and hit format column width and type the number you need it to be.

--
Kevin Vaughn


"grammy" wrote:

trying to set up a file with information for electronic transfer of data.
The columns needs to be set at specific width, so I need to be able to add
spaces before text, i.e. " left". Is there a way to do this without
having to manually add spaces?

You're welcome. Glad it worked for you.
--
Kevin Vaughn


"grammy" wrote:

Thanks, this is exactly what I needed.

"Kevin Vaughn" wrote:

Not sure what this has to do with the width of the column, but if you need
the cell to contain a certain number of characters, say 30, you could try
something like this:

=REPT(" ", 30 - LEN(B8)) & B8

You may want to use a helper column and then afterwards do a copy/paste
special values.
If you just need the column width to be a certain number, select the column,
and hit format column width and type the number you need it to be.

--
Kevin Vaughn


"grammy" wrote:

trying to set up a file with information for electronic transfer of data.
The columns needs to be set at specific width, so I need to be able to add
spaces before text, i.e. " left". Is there a way to do this without
having to manually add spaces?

Kevin, this justifies the data to the right. What do I change to justify it
to the left?

"Kevin Vaughn" wrote:

You're welcome. Glad it worked for you.
--
Kevin Vaughn


"grammy" wrote:

Thanks, this is exactly what I needed.

"Kevin Vaughn" wrote:

Not sure what this has to do with the width of the column, but if you need
the cell to contain a certain number of characters, say 30, you could try
something like this:

=REPT(" ", 30 - LEN(B8)) & B8

You may want to use a helper column and then afterwards do a copy/paste
special values.
If you just need the column width to be a certain number, select the column,
and hit format column width and type the number you need it to be.

--
Kevin Vaughn


"grammy" wrote:

trying to set up a file with information for electronic transfer of data.
The columns needs to be set at specific width, so I need to be able to add
spaces before text, i.e. " left". Is there a way to do this without
having to manually add spaces?

Try this one instead:

=B8 & REPT(" ", 30 - LEN(B8))

This will put the spaces at the end.
--
Kevin Vaughn


"grammy" wrote:

Kevin, this justifies the data to the right. What do I change to justify it
to the left?

"Kevin Vaughn" wrote:

You're welcome. Glad it worked for you.
--
Kevin Vaughn


"grammy" wrote:

Thanks, this is exactly what I needed.

"Kevin Vaughn" wrote:

Not sure what this has to do with the width of the column, but if you need
the cell to contain a certain number of characters, say 30, you could try
something like this:

=REPT(" ", 30 - LEN(B8)) & B8

You may want to use a helper column and then afterwards do a copy/paste
special values.
If you just need the column width to be a certain number, select the column,
and hit format column width and type the number you need it to be.

--
Kevin Vaughn


"grammy" wrote:

trying to set up a file with information for electronic transfer of data.
The columns needs to be set at specific width, so I need to be able to add
spaces before text, i.e. " left". Is there a way to do this without
having to manually add spaces?

Hi

Am best you separate data entry and transfer data. On input sheet, enter all
values aot padded. On transfer sheet, calculate values from according cells
on input sheet - like:
=IF(Input!A2="","",RIGHT(REPT(" ",20) & Input!A2,20))


Arvi Laanemets



"grammy" wrote in message
...
trying to set up a file with information for electronic transfer of data.
The columns needs to be set at specific width, so I need to be able to add
spaces before text, i.e. " left". Is there a way to do this
without
having to manually add spaces?