copy numbers and text to separate colums

[higguns]

hello,

I have a a file which has info such as qty and description of items in the same column.

I need to separate the info into two different columns or at minimum copy just the starting numbers to a separate column.

The info is usually in this format with the info needing to be extracted or copied to another cell highlighted in red:

QTY - DESCRIPTION
e.g.

100 - pull stations
43 - bells
2 - 9V batteries (floors 2-6)

As you can see above there are different amounts of characters making up the numbers needing to be copied and there are other numbers in the folowing text that don't need to be copied. Need to do this to hundreds of lines and a formula or macro would be most helpful instead of having to do it manually.

I've searched and searched but can't find a solution.

 

[jtakw]

Hi,

How about this:

Book1
	A	B	C
1		QTY	DESCRIPTION
2	100 - pull stations	100	pull stations
3	43 - bells	43	bells
4	2 - 9V batteries (floors 2-6)	2	9V batteries (floors 2-6)
Sheet168

Cell Formulas
Range	Formula
B2	=LEFT(A2,FIND("-",A2)-1)+0
C2	=TRIM(MID(A2,FIND("-",A2)+1,255))

B2 and C2 formula copied down.