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Using LEFT RIGHT & MID Functions in Excel
How does the Excel RIGHT function work?
The way the RIGHT function operates is by returning a predetermined number of characters from a text string’s bottom. The syntax for the RIGHT function is as follows:
RIGHT(text, [num_chars])
This syntax’s required element, text, refers to the text string you want to extract characters from. The optional num_chars element tells the code how many characters were extracted. The default number for the nums_chars code is one. This indicates that the RIGHT function extracts the final letter of a text string if you don’t specify a value for this code. It extracts the entire text if the value of the nums_chars code is greater than the size of the original text.
No matter what the current value is, the RIGHT function will always return a text string. For instance, the code will still produce a text string rather than a number string if the current value is a number. For this reason, when using this function, you might only want to use text. Otherwise, it might return text that contains incorrect numbers as values.
What is the Excel RIGHT function?
Excel’s RIGHT function returns a text string that indicates how many characters are on a string’s right side. Depending on the number of characters they specify, this function enables users to return the final characters in a text string. Additionally, it removes characters that start on the Excel sheet’s rightmost side of the left side. When using this feature, it is simpler to recognize characters and move them to the right side as necessary.
How to use the RIGHT function in Excel
The procedures and formulas listed below will assist you in using Excel’s RIGHT function for each of the three purposes listed below:
1. Get a substring that follows a specified character
You can use the FIND or SEARCH elements to locate a specific character within a text string or substring that you want to find and extract. Using the LEN function to return the character, you can then delete it from the string. By doing so, you can remove a particular character from the right side of the first string. The following code can be used to implement this function:
RIGHT(string, LEN(string) – SEARCH(character, string))
Additionally, you can create a substring using this function that follows other characters like commas or semicolons. You can use the following code to do that if you want to:
=RIGHT(A2,LEN(A2)-SEARCH(“-“,A2))
2. Extract a substring from the last appearance of a delimiter
This function can be used to extract a text string from more complex strings, such as those that contain characters that appear multiple times within the same delimiter. You might have to pull the text that is to the right of the last instance of the delimiter to accomplish this. Here are the steps you can follow to do so:
Code involved in this process includes:
Using the LEN function:
LEN(A2)
Using the SUBSTITUTE function code:
LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,”:”,””))
Finding the position of the last delimiter:
=SEARCH(“#”, SUBSTITUTE(A2,”:”,”#”,LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,”:”,””))))
Returning the text string to the last delimiter’s rightmost corner:
=RIGHT(A2,LEN(A2)-SEARCH(“$”,SUBSTITUTE(A2,”:”,”$”,LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,”:”,””)))))
3. Remove the original N characters from a text string
The RIGHT function can be used to remove specific characters from the beginning of a text string in addition to pulling a text string from the string’s rightmost side. The following is the code required to perform this function:
RIGHT(string, LEN(string)-number_of_chars_to_remove)
Examples of the Excel RIGHT function
Examples of how to use Excel’s RIGHT function are as follows:
Example 1
Here is an illustration of how to extract a substring that follows a particular character using the RIGHT function:
=RIGHT(B4,LEN(B4)-SEARCH(” “,B4))
Example 2
The VALUE and RIGHT functions allow you to extract a numeric value from a text string:
=RIGHT(B4,LEN(B4)-SEARCH(” “,B4))
Example 3
Here is an illustration of how to use the RIGHT function to extract a domain name from an Excel sheet that contains emails:
=RIGHT(E4,LEN(E4)-FIND(“@”,E4))
Example 4
The RIGHT function can also be used to modify a URL:
=LEFT(B4,LEN(B4)-(RIGHT(B4)=”/”))
Troubleshooting for the Excel RIGHT function
When using the RIGHT function, some users might experience difficulties. For the best use of this feature, consider asking and answering the following questions about potential problems:
Can I use the RIGHT function to extract a number?
Despite the fact that the character’s initial status was a numeral, the RIGHT function only produces a text string. Theres a way to get around this, though. The RIGHT function, when converted to the VALUE function, transforms a text string into a number or numbers.
Does the RIGHT function allow users to find dates?
In most cases, the RIGHT function wont work with dates. This is because dates are represented by numbers in the program, and the RIGHT function won’t return numbers. When you try to extract dates, the program only gives you the last four numbers of the date as they are displayed.
Will the RIGHT function work if the nums_chars is less than zero?
When performing the RIGHT function, the majority of users avoid using negative numbers. Use of a negative number will probably result in a #VALUE! error. When this occurs, think about checking the nested RIGHT function for problems.
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FAQ
How do I use left and right in Excel?
The Excel RIGHT function removes a specified number of characters from a text string’s right side. For example, RIGHT(“apple”,3) returns “ple”. One or more characters. text – The text from which the characters on the right should be taken out.
How do I get text to the right in Excel?
You can pull a predetermined number of characters from one cell into another cell using the LEFT function, starting at the leftmost point. Similar operations are performed by the RIGHT function, but it starts at the rightmost point. The MID function, which we discussed back in September, is connected to both of these functions.
How do I use right date in Excel?
The RIGHT function is used to extract text from the end of cell A2: =RIGHT(A2,LEN(A2)-FIND(“*”,???)) The LEN function returns the total characters in the cell to determine how many characters to extract. And then the FIND function locates our unique marker character.