Extracting First 5 Digits in Excel

Using the LEFT Function

To extract the first 5 digits from a cell in Excel, use the formula =LEFT(A2, 5). This formula returns the first 5 characters from the cell A2. Apply this formula in column B to extract data from a corresponding cell in column A.

Searching Within Strings

The SEARCH function can identify the position of a specific text within a string. Combine SEARCH with LEFT to extract text preceding a character, such as the "@" in an email address.

Case-Sensitive Searches

Use the FIND function in place of SEARCH to perform a case-sensitive operation. The FIND function is beneficial when case matters in your data extraction.

Combining Text Functions

Combine LEFT and RIGHT with LEN and FIND to extract specific text sections from a string. This method is ideal for parsing complex data like full names into first and last names.

Common Use Cases

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  Extracting ZIP Code prefixes for regional analysis
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  Isolating area codes from phone number lists
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  Generating product codes from longer serial numbers
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  Creating short identifiers from longer alphanumeric strings
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  Analyzing bank routing numbers for financial reports

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