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LEFT

See Also

LEFT returns the first character or characters in a text string, based on the number of characters you specify.

Syntax

LEFT(text,num_chars)

Text   is the text string that contains the characters you want to extract.

Num_chars   specifies the number of characters you want LEFT to extract.

• Num_chars must be greater than or equal to zero.

• If num_chars is greater than the length of text, LEFT returns all of text.

• If num_chars is omitted, it is assumed to be 1.

Example

The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank spreadsheet.

How?

1. Create a blank spreadsheet.
2. Select the example in the Help topic.

   

   Selecting an example from Help

3. Press CTRL+C.
4. In the spreadsheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
5. To switch between viewing the formula that returns the result and the result in the cell, select the cell and press F2 and then ENTER, or click Commands and Options on the spreadsheet toolbar, click the Formula tab, and look in the Formula in active cell (active cell) box.

 

Data
Sale Price
Sweden
Formula	Description (Result)
=LEFT(A2,4)	First four characters in the first string (Sale)
=LEFT(A3)	First character in the second string (S)