Format Cell Text length?

[xltmike]

If I have cells with various words in varied length, is there a way to format the cell to display only the first 3 characters, the first 5 characters, etc... while the actual cell contents are say 20 characters?

I have never had a request like this before so please excuse me if it is an obvious answer...

Thank you

 

[Jonmo1]

Welcome to the board...

You could use a formula in another column...
=LEFT(A1,3)

and fill down...

 

[xltmike]

Thank you...

This is a real p.i.t.a.
They want to type a word in a cell and only display the first 5 characters.

Ex. Type in Ridiculous (which I think this really is) and only display Ridic

I'm just going to tell them good luck.
I'm going to use the left(a1,5) and be done with it.