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.
Category
Text
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, theLEFT
function will return the first character of the text. - Booleans: If the cell contains a Boolean value (
TRUE
orFALSE
), theLEFT
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.), theLEFT
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)"
]
]
}]
});
}
}