Data Structure
Networking
RDBMS
Operating System
Java
MS Excel
iOS
HTML
CSS
Android
Python
C Programming
C++
C#
MongoDB
MySQL
Javascript
PHP
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Mathematics
English
Economics
Psychology
Social Studies
Fashion Studies
Legal Studies
- Selected Reading
- UPSC IAS Exams Notes
- Developer's Best Practices
- Questions and Answers
- Effective Resume Writing
- HR Interview Questions
- Computer Glossary
- Who is Who
How to Extract First or Last N Characters from String in Excel
Isolating particular chunks of a string for further examination or manipulation is frequently necessary when working with huge datasets or complex information. Excel has robust capabilities that make it simple to extract the required characters from a text string, whether they are at the start or the end.
In order to extract the first and last n characters, respectively, we will first learn how to use the LEFT and RIGHT methods. When you are certain of the precise number of characters you wish to extract, these functions are ideal. This tutorial will give you the instructions and examples you need, regardless of your level of Excel proficiency. This will enable you to confidently extract the desired characters from a string. Let's begin by utilising Excel's full potential to alter and extract useful information from your data.
Extract First/Last N Characters from String
Here we will first use a formula to get the first value, then use the autofill handle to complete the task. So, let us see a simple process to know how you can extract the first and last "N" characters from a string in Excel.
Step 1
Consider an Excel sheet where you have a list of items, as shown in the following image:
First, to extract the first "N" characters from a string, click on an empty cell and enter the formula as =LEFT(A2,4) and click enter to get the first value. In the formula, A2 is the address of the cell, and 4 is the value of "N".
Empty cell > Formula > Enter.
Step 2
Then drag down using the autofill handle to complete the task.
Note :
If you want to extract the last "N" characters from a string, use the formula as =RIGHT(E1, 3). In the formula, E1 is the address of the cell, and 3 is the value of "N".
Conclusion
In this tutorial, we have used a simple example to demonstrate how you can extract the first and last n characters from a string in Excel to highlight a particular set of data.
5K+ Views
