Clip text to n characters

Hi

I have a column of text of variable length (no. of chars) Which function
can I use to create a column using, say, the first 20 characters of each
cell?

David

Use the function MID

=MID(TextLocation,StartNumber,Number of Characters)

To get the first 20 characters of cell C1 use
=MID(C1,1,20)

"David H" <daviidh@mh-s.co.uk> wrote in message
news:OMv34UHBFHA.208@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Hi
>
> I have a column of text of variable length (no. of chars) Which function
> can I use to create a column using, say, the first 20 characters of each
> cell?
>
> David
>
>

MID would be mostly used if you want something in the middle of the string.

For something like that, I would go with:
=LEFT(C1,20)
which will grab the first 20 characters of the string in cell C1

"Barb Reinhardt" <breinhardt@replytonewsgroup.com> wrote in message
news:uKXlOfHBFHA.3376@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Use the function MID
>
> =MID(TextLocation,StartNumber,Number of Characters)
>
> To get the first 20 characters of cell C1 use
> =MID(C1,1,20)
>
> "David H" <daviidh@mh-s.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:OMv34UHBFHA.208@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>> Hi
>>
>> I have a column of text of variable length (no. of chars) Which function
>> can I use to create a column using, say, the first 20 characters of each
>> cell?
>>
>> David
>>
>>
>
>

Select the column and do Data / text to Columns / Fixed width - Set the
break at 20 characters and choose 'Do not import' for the second column of
data within the wizard. Drag out any superfluous breaks first though.

--
Regards
Ken....................... Microsoft MVP - Excel
Sys Spec - Win XP Pro / XL 97/00/02/03

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"David H" <daviidh@mh-s.co.uk> wrote in message
news:OMv34UHBFHA.208@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Hi
>
> I have a column of text of variable length (no. of chars) Which function
> can I use to create a column using, say, the first 20 characters of each
> cell?
>
> David
>
>