LEFT function

PRO BASIC

The LEFT function in Jspreadsheet Formulas Pro is a handy tool that allows you to extract a certain number of characters from the start of a text string. Simply put, it takes the first (leftmost) characters of the text you specify. For instance, if you have a cell containing the text 'Hello World' and you use the LEFT function to get the first 5 characters, it will return 'Hello'. This can be very useful when you need to manipulate or analyze data in a specific way.

Documentation

Returns a specified number of characters from the beginning (left side) of a text string.

Syntax

LEFT(text, [num_chars])

Parameter	Description
`text`	The text string that contains the characters you want to extract.
`[num_chars]`	Optional. Specifies how many characters you want LEFT to return.

Behavior

The LEFT function is designed to extract a specified number of characters from the left side of a cell's content. It is applicable to cells containing text or alphanumeric characters. Here's how it handles various inputs:

Text: The LEFT function works perfectly with text and returns the specified number of characters from the left.
Numbers: If the cell contains a numerical value, the LEFT function will treat it as text and return the specified number of digits from the left.
Empty cells: If the LEFT function is applied to an empty cell, it will return an empty string. If the num_chars argument is omitted, the LEFT function will return the first character of the text.
Booleans: If the cell contains a Boolean value (TRUE or FALSE), the LEFT function will treat it as text and return the specified number of characters from the left.
Errors: If the cell contains an error (like #N/A, #VALUE!, etc.), the LEFT function will return that error.

Common Errors

Error	Description
#VALUE!	This error occurs when the `num_chars` argument in the `LEFT` function is non-numeric.
#NUM!	This error occurs when the `num_chars` argument in the `LEFT` function is less than zero.

Best Practices

Always ensure that the num_chars argument you provide is a non-negative number. Providing a negative number will result in a #NUM! error.

Use the LEFT function in conjunction with other text functions for more complicated manipulations.

Be mindful of the data type in the target cell. Although LEFT can handle different data types, its primary use is for text manipulation.

Remember that LEFT counts each character, including spaces and special characters, when determining the number of characters to return.

Usage

A few examples using the LEFT function.

LEFT('apple', 3) returns 'app'  
LEFT('banana', 2) returns 'ba'  
LEFT('cherry', 5) returns 'cherr'

Interactive Spreadsheet Demo

<html>
<script src="https://jspreadsheet.com/v11/jspreadsheet.js"></script>
<script src="https://jsuites.net/v5/jsuites.js"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://jsuites.net/v5/jsuites.css" type="text/css" />
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://jspreadsheet.com/v11/jspreadsheet.css" type="text/css" />

<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Material+Icons" />
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@jspreadsheet/formula-pro/dist/index.min.js"></script>

<div id="spreadsheet"></div>

<script>
// Set your JSS license key (The following key only works for one day)
jspreadsheet.setLicense('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');

// Set the extensions
jspreadsheet.setExtensions({ formula });

// Create a new spreadsheet
jspreadsheet(document.getElementById('spreadsheet'), {
  worksheets: [{
    data: [
    [
        "Product Code",
        "First 3 Characters",
        "First 2 Characters"
    ],
    [
        "APPLE-123",
        "=LEFT(A2,3)",
        "=LEFT(A2,2)"
    ],
    [
        "BANANA-456",
        "=LEFT(A3,3)",
        "=LEFT(A3,2)"
    ],
    [
        "CHERRY-789",
        "=LEFT(A4,3)",
        "=LEFT(A4,2)"
    ],
    [
        "GRAPE-101",
        "=LEFT(A5,3)",
        "=LEFT(A5,2)"
    ]
]
  }]
});
</script>
</html>

import React, { useRef } from "react";
import { Spreadsheet, Worksheet, jspreadsheet } from "@jspreadsheet/react";
import formula from "@jspreadsheet/formula-pro";
import "jsuites/dist/jsuites.css";
import "jspreadsheet/dist/jspreadsheet.css";

// Set license
jspreadsheet.setLicense('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');

// Set the extensions
jspreadsheet.setExtensions({ formula });

export default function App() {
    // Spreadsheet array of worksheets
    const spreadsheet = useRef();

    // Worksheet data
    const data = [
    [
        "Product Code",
        "First 3 Characters",
        "First 2 Characters"
    ],
    [
        "APPLE-123",
        "=LEFT(A2,3)",
        "=LEFT(A2,2)"
    ],
    [
        "BANANA-456",
        "=LEFT(A3,3)",
        "=LEFT(A3,2)"
    ],
    [
        "CHERRY-789",
        "=LEFT(A4,3)",
        "=LEFT(A4,2)"
    ],
    [
        "GRAPE-101",
        "=LEFT(A5,3)",
        "=LEFT(A5,2)"
    ]
];

    // Render component
    return (
        <Spreadsheet ref={spreadsheet}>
            <Worksheet data={data} />
        </Spreadsheet>
    );
}

<template>
    <Spreadsheet ref="spreadsheet">
        <Worksheet :data="data" />
    </Spreadsheet>
</template>

<script>
import { Spreadsheet, Worksheet, jspreadsheet } from "@jspreadsheet/vue";
import "jsuites/dist/jsuites.css";
import "jspreadsheet/dist/jspreadsheet.css";
import formula from "@jspreadsheet/formula-pro";

// Set license
jspreadsheet.setLicense('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');

// Set the extensions
jspreadsheet.setExtensions({ formula });

export default {
    components: {
        Spreadsheet,
        Worksheet,
    },
    data() {
        // Worksheet data
        const data = [
    [
        "Product Code",
        "First 3 Characters",
        "First 2 Characters"
    ],
    [
        "APPLE-123",
        "=LEFT(A2,3)",
        "=LEFT(A2,2)"
    ],
    [
        "BANANA-456",
        "=LEFT(A3,3)",
        "=LEFT(A3,2)"
    ],
    [
        "CHERRY-789",
        "=LEFT(A4,3)",
        "=LEFT(A4,2)"
    ],
    [
        "GRAPE-101",
        "=LEFT(A5,3)",
        "=LEFT(A5,2)"
    ]
]

        return {
            data
        };
    }
}
</script>

import { Component, ViewChild, ElementRef } from "@angular/core";
import jspreadsheet from "jspreadsheet";
import * as formula from "@jspreadsheet/formula-pro";

// Set your JSS license key (The following key only works for one day)
jspreadsheet.setLicense('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');

// Set the extensions
jspreadsheet.setExtensions({ formula });

@Component({
    standalone: true,
    selector: "app-root",
    template: `<div #spreadsheet></div>`
})
export class AppComponent {
    @ViewChild("spreadsheet") spreadsheet: ElementRef;
    // Worksheets
    worksheets: jspreadsheet.worksheetInstance[];

    // Create a new data grid
    ngAfterViewInit() {
        // Create spreadsheet
        this.worksheets = jspreadsheet(this.spreadsheet.nativeElement, {
            worksheets: [{
                data: [
    [
        "Product Code",
        "First 3 Characters",
        "First 2 Characters"
    ],
    [
        "APPLE-123",
        "=LEFT(A2,3)",
        "=LEFT(A2,2)"
    ],
    [
        "BANANA-456",
        "=LEFT(A3,3)",
        "=LEFT(A3,2)"
    ],
    [
        "CHERRY-789",
        "=LEFT(A4,3)",
        "=LEFT(A4,2)"
    ],
    [
        "GRAPE-101",
        "=LEFT(A5,3)",
        "=LEFT(A5,2)"
    ]
]
            }]
        });
    }
}

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