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Deleted's avatar
Deleted
Aug 01, 2019

EXCEL: "If cell contains specific letter using LEFT formula then return specific text"

Problem: 25k rows per column and I'm trying to extract different types of product references. 

Using =Left(cell;1) I will have 3 different outputs. "E", "F" and "U".

 

Now what I need to do is rename everything that returns as E, F and U as their specific brand.

 

Tried using =(IF(LEFT(B5;1)="e";"text that I want to return";LEFT(B5;1))) and this works for E.

Now what do I do for it to include the cells that start with "f" and "u" within the same formula?

 

I tried some experiments with the formula OR but didn't achieve anything.

 

5 Replies

  • Deleted 

    Hi

    I created a sample Excel file  for you

    If your values to evaluate are in Column A then use this function  in Column B
    =IFERROR(VLOOKUP(LEFT(A2,1),$H$2:$I$4,2,0),"")

    Range H2 : I4 is the Table array of the VLOOKUP function

    Then Hit F2 (edit Mode)

    Select the Table array and Hit F9 >> Enter

    You now hardcoded the Table array INSIDE the function

    Delete the Table array

    Copy Your Function down

    =IFERROR(VLOOKUP(LEFT(A7,1),{"E","Txt for E";"F","Txt for F";"U","Txt for U"},2,0),"")

     

    Hope that helps

    Nabil Mourad

    • Anga73's avatar
      Anga73
      Copper Contributor

      I have be trying to do this with a spreadsheet I prepare every month for ages but have never been able to figure it out. My letters are on the right - so I replaced left with right using your formula and it works like a dream.

       

      Thank you so much - this has saved me so much time.

  • Twifoo's avatar
    Twifoo
    Silver Contributor
    Try this:
    =IFERROR(CHOOSE(MATCH(LEFT(B5),
    {“E”,”F”,”U”},0),
    “TextForE”,”TextForF”,TextForU”),
    LEFT(B5))
  • tauqeeracma's avatar
    tauqeeracma
    Iron Contributor

    Hi Deleted 

     

    Try below formula

     

    =IF(LEFT(B5,1)="E","1st Text",IF(LEFT(B5,1)="F","2nd Text","3rd Text"))

     

    Hope it will help.

    Thanks

    Tauqeer

    • Deleted's avatar
      Deleted

      Thank you!

       

      It worked fine, I guess I was overthinking a simple formula

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