VLookup and text strings

[bmac]

Hello, I am using the vlookup function. I have values that have three to nine
text characters followed by numbers. Examples are COM-123, COM-124, ABCD-12,
ABCD-13, etc,. The number of letters may be 2-9. I want to modfiy my lookup
formula so that COM-123 returns the value COM. Or ABCD-13, returns the value
ABCD.

Any help appreciated.

 

[Bernard Liengme]

That is not what VLOOKUP is used for. See
http://spreadsheets.about.com/od/excelfunctions/ss/90320vlookup.htm

This returns the letters: =LEFT(A1,FIND("-",A1)-1)
This returns the number: =--MID(A1,FIND("-",A1)+1,99)
best wishes

 

[T. Valko]

I want to modfiy my lookup formula so that

COM-123 returns the value COM. Or
ABCD-13, returns the value ABCD.

In other words, you want everything the the left of the dash?

A1 = COM-123

=LEFT(A1,FIND("-",A1)-1)

 

[bmac]

Thanks, I probably did not explain this well about VLookup -- however, your
solution works much better, thanks!