How to Cut Cell Value in Excel

Using Functions to Remove Characters

To remove the first character from a cell, use the RIGHT, LEN, or REPLACE functions. To strip the last character, apply the LEFT function or a custom VBA function. The MID function is suitable for cutting characters from both sides of a string.

Converting and Cleaning Data

Convert text to numbers with the VALUE function or the Ablebits Convert Text tool. The TRIM and CLEAN functions together remove non-printing characters. To eliminate non-breaking spaces, combine TRIM with SUBSTITUTE.

Advanced Text Manipulation

For specific character removal, use SUBSTITUTE to replace text within a string. The TEXT function can format numbers with leading zeros. Utilize Excel's text to columns feature for extracting strings.

Utilizing Excel Features

Excel's Flash Fill feature in Excel 2013 and later automates character deletion from strings. The Ultimate Suite add-in offers a simple click-based solution for deleting characters. Custom VBA functions provide tailored string manipulation.

Regional Settings Impact

The list separator for functions like SUBSTITUTE is based on Windows Regional settings, with commas used in the USA and UK, and semicolons in most European countries. This affects how functions are written.

Common Use Cases

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  Use case 1: Removing sensitive information from a dataset before sharing
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  Use case 2: Preparing data for analysis by extracting only relevant portions of cell contents
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  Use case 3: Cleaning imported data by trimming unwanted characters or spaces
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  Use case 4: Splitting full names into first and last names for individual columns
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  Use case 5: Creating abbreviated codes from longer strings for easier data management

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