replace last four of ssn with xxxx

[mary s]

How do I replace the last four of an ssn with xxxx? I tried:
Insert > function
Old text > A1 (or whatever start cell)
Start num > 8
Num char > 4
New text xxxx

The end result I want is 123-45-xxxx but every time i try to copy the
formula down it alters the successive ssns. Any ideas?

 

[dlw]

how about: =left(a1,7)&"xxxx"

 

[Jim May]

=LEFT(A1,LEN(A1)-4)&"xxxx"

 

[mary s]

Is there any way I can lock that formula so that when I copy it down a column
of SSNs the following SSNs don't change?

 

[David Biddulph]

Is there any way I can lock that formula so that when I copy it down a
column
of SSNs the following SSNs don't change?

You're not copying the formula down column A, are you? If your existing
SSNs are in column A, put your formula in column B (or any convenient empty
column). If, when you've done that, you want to replace the old SSNs with
the new ones, you can cut, then paste special/ values.

 

[mary s]

Yeah. I was creating the formula and copying it down the same column. They
all work once I enter them in a new blank column and copy down. Thanks
everyone for your help!