Ken,

many thanks for the prompt reply! Both approaches worked a treat! Just out
of curiousity (and for an excel novice) can you briefly explain the
significance of the '-1' in the formula? Briefly how does it work ..?

Thnaks again,

Don

"Ken Wright" wrote:

> Select all your codes and paste into a new column at the end of your data.
> Select all these codes and do Data / text to Columns / delimited / space as
> delimiter.
>
> If you want a formula then
>
> =LEFT(A1,(FIND(" ",A1)-1))
>
> --
> Regards
> Ken....................... Microsoft MVP - Excel
> Sys Spec - Win XP Pro / XL 97/00/02/03
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission :-)
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> "Don" <Don@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:1661F9CA-506C-445A-BF28-09485B0D233B@microsoft.com...
> > Hi,
> > I am preparing a Pivot table from a s/s with multiple columns ..One of the
> > columns is 'Post code'. In each post code cell is identified a unique post
> > code which is a two part code in the format AABB CAA (where AA=alphabet
> > characters, B=numeric 0-99, C= numeric 0-9. There is always a space
> between B
> > and C.
> > Is there a formula I can define that will simply import the first part of
> > the code into a new column? So for example for RG7 4TY I will capture RG7
> in
> > the new column, but equally it will accomodate scenarios where the first
> > component is 4 characters ... So for example with post code RG12 IBP, I
> will
> > simply capture RG12?
> >
> > I am guessing there is a way to do this? Would appreciate assistance!
> >
> > Don-
>
>
>