Trim or Extract from a Text Field

[billbrandi]

Within Excel, how do I either trim the characters in a text field or extract
characters? I have a field that is in the xxxxxxyyyyxxxxx format and need
only the yyyy portion.

 

[Ron Coderre]

With in cell A1

If you want to extract those yyyy characters using a formula....

try this:
B1: =MID(A1,7,4)

OR...you could use Text-to-Columns:

Select the single column range of values (eg: A1:A10)
From the Excel Main Menu:
<data><text-to-columns>
Check: Fixed Width
Click [Next]
Insert break points before and just after the yyyy chars (by clicking)
Click [Next]
Select the 1st column.....Click: Do not import column
Select the 3rd column.....Click: Do not import column

Then....you have a decision:
To trim the excess characters from the actual cells...Click [Finish]

To extract the yyyy chars to another location:
Set the Destination cell (eg B1)....Click [Finish]

Does that help?
--------------------------

Regards,

Ron
Microsoft MVP (Excel)
(XL2003, Win XP)