How to use left function in excel

If you are wondering how to use left function in excel, it is very easy. But first you should know what does the left function do. The left function primary objective is to extract the information from the LEFT and copy that in the desired cell. That’s it.

Here you will know how to use left function in excel in 3 methods. The working example though will be same but accessing option for the left function will be different.

Use left function directly by keyboard shortcut

1. Open the file you wish to use left function. This example here contains a phone number list with names and contact details. And it is required to extract only the area code.

2. Click on the cell E6 to apply left function.

3. type “=left”

4. Press Tab, the left function is active.

5. Click on the cell D6 for the text.

6. Insert comma and for the number of characters, also include parathesis so “(814)” makes 5 characters. Type 5.

7. press Enter key. The left function has extracted the only the area code.

8. Click at the corner of cell E6, the cursor changes to plus sign.

9. Hold the left mouse button and drag down upto E13 and releas the button. The left function is applied to all contacts.

Use left function directly by options

1. Open the file you wish to use left function. This example here contains a phone number list with names and contact details.

2. Click on the cell E6 to apply left function.

3. Click on the Formula tab. This opens the formula ribbon tab.

4. Click on the Text option. A drop down box appears.

5. Click the Left option.

6. A dialogue box appears.

7. Click arrow in the Text field.

8. Click on the cell D6 and hit Enter key. The Text field is assigned value.

9. Again for the number of characters, type 5.

10. Hit Ok.

11. The left function has extracted the only the area code.

12. Click at the corner of cell E6, the cursor changes to plus sign.

13. Hold the left mouse button and drag down upto E13 and release the button. The left function is applied to all contacts.

Use left function directly by function dialogue box

1. Open the file you wish to use left function. This example here contains a phone number list with names and contact details.

2. Click on the cell E6 to apply left function.

3. Click on the function option.

4. This opens up a dialogue box.

5. In the Search field, type Left. Notice that the left function appears in the search box.

6. Double click it, the left function dialogue box appears.

7. Repeat the same process as before, the left function extracts the area code from the given value.

8. Click at the corner of cell E6, the cursor changes to plus sign.

9. Hold the left mouse button and drag down upto E13 and releas the button. The left function is applied to all contacts.

So this is how to use left function in excel. Need to edit Word/Excel/PPT file free of charge? Download WPS Office edit files like without any cost. Download now! to get enjoyable working experience.