Excel: Remove first or last characters (from left or right)

This guide provides several methods for removing characters from the beginning or end of text strings in Excel. We'll cover using built-in functions, custom VBA functions, and even Flash Fill.

Removing Characters from the Left:

Several formulas can remove leading characters:

• Removing the first character: Use =REPLACE(A1,1,1,"") or =RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-1). These replace the first character with nothing, or extract all characters from the right except the first, respectively.

• Removing multiple left characters: Generalize the above: =REPLACE(A1,1,n,"") or =RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-n), where 'n' is the number of characters to remove.

• Custom VBA function (RemoveFirstChars): This function offers a cleaner approach. The VBA code is:

Function RemoveFirstChars(str As String, num_chars As Long)
    RemoveFirstChars = Right(str, Len(str) - num_chars)
End Function

Use it like this: =RemoveFirstChars(A1,n).

Removing Characters from the Right:

Similar methods apply to removing trailing characters:

• Removing the last character: Use =LEFT(A1,LEN(A1)-1). This extracts all characters from the left, excluding the last one.

• Removing multiple right characters: Use =LEFT(A1,LEN(A1)-n), where 'n' is the number of characters to remove.

• Custom VBA function (RemoveLastChars): This function simplifies the process. The VBA code is:

Function RemoveLastChars(str As String, num_chars As Long)
    RemoveLastChars = Left(str, Len(str) - num_chars)
End Function

Use it like this: =RemoveLastChars(A1,n).

Removing Characters from Both Sides:

The MID function efficiently handles this: =MID(A1,left_chars 1,LEN(A1)-(left_chars right_chars)), where left_chars and right_chars are the number of characters to remove from the left and right, respectively.

Ensuring Numeric Results:

Wrap any of the above formulas in VALUE() or multiply the result by 1 to convert text-formatted numbers to true numbers.

Flash Fill and Ultimate Suite:

Excel's Flash Fill can quickly remove the first or last character(s) if a pattern is detected. The Ablebits Ultimate Suite provides a user-friendly interface for removing characters by position.

This comprehensive guide offers various techniques for efficiently removing characters from text strings in Excel, catering to different skill levels and preferences. Remember to download the example file and consider trying the Ultimate Suite trial for an even simpler approach.

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