Removing Characters from Cells

[burlow74]

Hello,

Is it possible to remove a certain number of characters from multiple cells.

For example, I have 800 rows, each with a 12 digit number in, but I only need the first 4 digits.

I want to remove the other 8 digits from all the cells and all the numbers are different!

Is this possible or am i in for a long night of manual work.......?

Cheers

Ian

 

[RoryA]

Use a separate column with formulas like:
=LEFT(A1,4)
and copy down. You can then Copy, and Paste Special-> Values over the top of the original data if you want.

 

[Jonmo1]

You could put this formula in an adjescent column

=Left(a1,4)*1

fill it down to the end of the data

copy that column
Paste Special Values onto the original column

Hope this helps.

 

[pgc01]

Hi Ian

Select the column and use text to columns to keep the 4 first characters.

 

[burlow74]

Thanks guys, great help.

Ian