It appears from the posts that the numbers may
occur before or after the text.
I'm not sure I read it that way.
That formula is not durable against trailing numbers
....it returns the entire source string.
But, in case you are right, this normally-entered formula will handle any of
the possible situations as it will remove the right AND/OR left numerical
portions of the contents in A1 leaving the non-numerical left, right or
middle text (even if that remaining text contains embedded digits)...
=SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(A1,LEFT(A1,SUMPRODUCT(--ISNUMBER(--LEFT(A1,ROW(1:99))))),""),RIGHT(A1,SUMPRODUCT(--ISNUMBER(--RIGHT(A1,ROW($1:99))))),"")
So, as long as the length of A1 is less than 100 (although that limitation
can be changed as required), the formula will return, as an example, ABC if
A1 contains either 1234ABC, ABC5678 or 1234ABC5678 (and it will even return
AB4C5DE if A1 contains 123AB4C5DE or AB4C5DE6789 or 123AB4C5DE6789).
Assuming, however, that the contents of A1 are of the form 123ABC or ABC123,
and that the above formula is in B1, then the leading OR trailing digits can
be found with this formula...
=SUBSTITUTE(A1,B1,"")
(Plus, I have this "thing" about avoiding array formulas
unless they're absolutely necessary. Seems like nobody I
work with ever remembers to C+S+E them.)
I tend to avoid them too. When I do end up using one, and then have to edit
it for any reason, I almost always finish the editing session by hitting
Enter first and then, when I see the error message (or a nonsensical
result), slap my forehead and then click back into the formula bar so I can
press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to commit it correctly; so I know what you mean.<g>
Rick