Beginner. Needing help with a Basic if statement with a left

[tranquil]

Basically I am having issues with the syntax of my formula.

I have

C1256
F1235
V2256


I want to convert that data to show that if the first letter is C then return "Catalog", F then return friends and family and v as video.

Here is what I had so far =IF(OR(LEFT(P3,1)="C","Catalog")

 

[njimack]

Sheet1

*	A	B
1	C1256	Catalog
2	F1235	Friends & Family
3	V2256	Videos

<colgroup><col style="font-weight:bold; width:30px; "><col style="width:64px;"><col style="width:111px;"></colgroup><tbody>
</tbody>

Spreadsheet Formulas

Cell Formula B1 =LOOKUP(LEFT(A1),{"C","F","V"},{"Catalog","Friends & Family","Videos"}) B2 =LOOKUP(LEFT(A2),{"C","F","V"},{"Catalog","Friends & Family","Videos"}) B3 =LOOKUP(LEFT(A3),{"C","F","V"},{"Catalog","Friends & Family","Videos"}) <tbody> </tbody>

<tbody>
</tbody>

Excel tables to the web >> Excel Jeanie HTML 4

 

[mumps]

Try:
=IF(LEFT(P3)="C","Catalog",IF(LEFT(P3)="F","Family and Friends",IF(LEFT(P3)="V","Video","")))

 

[rallcorn]

Welcome to the Mr.Excel forum and Message Board.

There are multiple ways you could accomplish this. (Edit: I'm "late" & 2 approaches I've listed below were already suggested!)
Your formula:
=IF(LEFT(P3,1)="C","Catalog",IF(LEFT(P3,1)="F","Friends and Family",IF(LEFT(P3,1)="V","Video","Everything Else")))

Another approach:
=LOOKUP(LEFT(P3,1),{"C","F","V"},{"Catalog","Friends and Family","Video"})

If you have a whole list, you might consider a table on another sheet and then use the formula shown below
Sheet2 Col A Sheet2 Col B

C</SPAN>	Catalog</SPAN>
F</SPAN>	Friends and Family</SPAN>
V</SPAN>	Video</SPAN>

<TBODY>
</TBODY>

=IF(ISERROR(INDEX(Sheet2!B:B,MATCH(LEFT(P3,1),Sheet2!A:A,FALSE),1)),"Everything Else",INDEX(Sheet2!B:B,MATCH(LEFT(P3,1),Sheet2!A:A,FALSE),1))