Duplicate cell contents with character limit

[sbdesign]

Here is what I'm trying to do:

In column 'A' I have 15,000 rows of text 300 characters and longer. What I want to do is enter a formula in column 'B' that shows the first 55 characters in column 'A', basically a summary of column 'A'.

Thanks

 

[VoG]

Try in B1 copied down

=LEFT(A1,55)

 

[mikerickson]

The LEFT function could do that.

 

[sbdesign]

That did exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for the quick reply!