How can I count the number of characters on a cell?

[Guest]

I have several hundreds of line items that need to be entered to a web
application that restricts the length of each line to 40 characters. Is there
a way to count the number of characters on a cell so I can automate the
review process for each cell of my spreadsheet with one formula or function
that indicates for each cell the number of characters (with spaces) that it
contains?

I appreciate very much any input

 

[Roger Govier]

Hi Eddie

Try
=LEN(A1) to give you the number of characters in a cell

If you want to automatically trim the length of your entries, then in
another column use
=LEFT(A1,MIN(40,LEN(A1)))
and copy down

 

[Guest]

If you want to automatically trim the length ....

=LEFT(A1,MIN(40,LEN(A1)))

Most cool, Roger......most cool.

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

 

[RagDyeR]

OK, I give up!

What's the advantage over plain 'ol:
=Left(a1,40)
--

Regards,

RD
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please keep all correspondence within the Group, so all may benefit !
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you want to automatically trim the length ....
=LEFT(A1,MIN(40,LEN(A1)))

Most cool, Roger......most cool.

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

 

[Guest]

I dunno if it's an advantage or not, but one difference is...
if A1= 1.234567, the formula =LEFT(A1,MIN(4,LEN(A1))) returns 1.234567
while the formula =Left(A1,4) returns 1.23

But for most cases, there don't seem to be much difference.....

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

 

[RagDyeR]

That doesn't happen in my book Chuck!<g>
--

Regards,

RD
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please keep all correspondence within the Group, so all may benefit !
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I dunno if it's an advantage or not, but one difference is...
if A1= 1.234567, the formula =LEFT(A1,MIN(4,LEN(A1))) returns 1.234567
while the formula =Left(A1,4) returns 1.23

But for most cases, there don't seem to be much difference.....

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

 

[Guest]

Did you notice I changed the 40 to 4 for my examples...........

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

 

[David Biddulph]

Yes, and =LEFT(A1,MIN(4,LEN(A1))) returns 1.23, not 1.234567, hence RD's
comment.
If you are getting 1.234567 from that formula, what does =MIN(4,LEN(A1))
return?

 

[Guest]

Ah-so.........mine mistake...........it must be all these women that keep
coming in here bugging me for "favors"........it just keeps distracting my
concentration...or maybe that was a dream I was having......<G>

Anyway, good catch guys........

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

 

[Roger Govier]

Hi Rick

Put it down to a senior moment!!!
For some stupid reason, I was thinking that left(a1,40) was going to pad
the value with extra spaces.
Guess I managed to fool Chuck for a few moments (he must have been
sharing that moment with me)<vbg>

Apologies to all
=LEFT(A1,40) wins the day.

 

[CLR]

Not a problem Roger, after all is said and done, your formula DID work as
the OP asked, which is the most important thing. As for "senior moment",
I've heard of those and since I'm only 69 I'll let you know when one of my
own comes up <G>

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

 

[RagDyeR]

You must be in good shape.

I'm 68 and get 2 or 3 a day ... EVERY day!<bg>
--

Regards,

RD
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please keep all correspondence within the Group, so all may benefit !
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not a problem Roger, after all is said and done, your formula DID work as
the OP asked, which is the most important thing. As for "senior moment",
I've heard of those and since I'm only 69 I'll let you know when one of my
own comes up <G>

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3