How to cut off characters in a text column

[abc]

Hello

In my Excel file there is a column with text data
where the data consist of lots of characters.
Only n characters in the column for each record
are really important.
The question is how to cut off (delete) all characters
from n+1 to the end automatically.

The exmple which shows one of records:
originally the column contains:
qwer tyuiopa csdf ghjkvlzxc vbnm qew gfiwbv lwbvci
the expected result:
qwer tyuiopa csdf ghjkvlzxc vb
where the number n is equal to 30.

How to do it automatically?
If I put the number n as a width of column it'll result
on the display but not in printing or MailMerge process.

I'd be very grateful for your help.

Regards
abc

 

[Joel]

Put a formula in a new column then pste the results of the formula back into
the orignal cells using paste special value only

1) In new column =left(A1,30)
2) copy the formula down the new column
3) Copy New column
4) Select old column and using paste special with value only selected paste
data back into original column

 

[BSc Chem Eng Rick]

Hi

Try this fomula:
=LEFT(A1,30)

where A1 contains your text and 30 is the number of characters from the left
that you want to keep.

If this helps please click "Yes"
<><><><><><><><><><>

 

[abc]

Thank you very much, both of you.

That works, except that it must be:
=left(A1;30) not =left(A1,30)

Thanks again and best regards
abc