How to use/extract only a portion of a field

[becder]

Help, oh please help using Excel 2007.
If it is possible, I need to know how to use only a portion of a cell.
Please keep your answer simple if possible. I'm pretty much a novice as I
read answers of the forum

My project is to create computer login cards for elementary grade students.

For example, I've been given a file with
Column 1 is a six digit student number (987654)
Column 2 is the student's first name (Jane)
Column 3 is the student's last name (Doe)

What I need is to create is a combination of that information so it will
read JD987654. Is there a type of formula that would put the first letter of
column 2, plus the first letter of column 3, and the contents of column 1
into one cell, in that order? Hence, JD987654.

Another thought I had was to get the first letter only of column 2 to show
up in a totally separate column, say column 6. Then the first letter only of
column 3 into column 7. At that point I could create a merge file in Word to
finish my project. I just don't know if it is possible to use only a portion
of a field.

Any help would be so appreciated. Becky

 

[Bernie Deitrick]

A formula like this in cell D2

=LEFT(B2,1) & LEFT(C2,1) & A2

will return what you want, if you have the 6 digits in A2, first name in B2, and last name in C2.

Then copy and paste down to match your list

 

[becder]

Fabulous! It worked perfectly! So now, just for the sake of learning as I
looked up this formula (I never would have known to look this up.)
Beginning at the LEFT of the text in B2, use the first letter... Awesome!

Thanks Bernie. You just made me and 500 kids very happy.