Getting rid of unwanted characters

[fodejimi]

Hello,

I have tried hard to no avail using the trim function to get rid of the unwanted characters before and after the numbers below :

<---- 17026 ---->
<---- 17027 ---->
<---- 17049 ---->

Any one with any ideas?

Many thanks

FO

[zbor]

how about this:


=LOOKUP(99^99, --MID(A1, FIND(" ", A1), ROW($A$1:$A$30)))

[NBVC]

Have you tried the CLEAN() function?

If it doesn't work, then what are those spaces? Try =CODE(LEFT(A1)) where A1 contains one of those strings to trim... what does that return?

[scottylad2]

=SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(D6,">",""),"-",""),"<","")+0

where D6 holds <---- 17026 ----> leaves you with 17026

[fodejimi]

It worked. Many thanks to you all.

[NBVC]

What worked?

Please identify which solution worked for future users looking for answers.