Using replace to replace ONLY the first instance

[cloud2828]

I'm trying to use this formula:
REPLACE("S";1;1;"O")
To remove the first instance of S only. An example of what the column would look like:

T

O

O

P

P

T

S

S

P

O

T

O

O

<tbody>
</tbody>

Sadly, It is necessary that I drag the formula I have down thus resulting in all the "S" being replaced by "O".

 

[theBardd]

Why not just write some VBA that reads your definition table and creates a column with said number of each letter. Add a random number in the adjacent column, sort by that column, then delete it.