Remove Last 2 Characters In Excel Quickly And Easily

Removing the last two characters from a string in Excel can be a simple task, and there are several methods to achieve this. Whether you're dealing with text, numbers, or dates, Excel provides various functions and techniques to manipulate strings. In this article, we'll explore the most efficient ways to remove the last two characters from a cell or a range of cells in Excel.

Understanding the Problem

Before we dive into the solutions, let's understand the problem. Suppose you have a list of product codes, and each code has a suffix of "XY" that you want to remove. The product codes are in column A, and you want to remove the last two characters ("XY") from each code.

Method 1: Using the LEFT Function

The LEFT function is a simple and straightforward way to remove the last two characters from a string. The syntax for the LEFT function is:

LEFT(text, [num_chars])

Where:

• text is the string from which you want to extract characters.
• [num_chars] is the number of characters you want to extract from the left side of the string.

To remove the last two characters from a string, you can use the LEN function to get the length of the string and then subtract 2 from it.

Assuming the product code is in cell A1, the formula would be:

=LEFT(A1, LEN(A1)-2)

This formula extracts all characters from the left side of the string except the last two.

Method 2: Using the RIGHT Function

The RIGHT function is similar to the LEFT function, but it extracts characters from the right side of the string. The syntax for the RIGHT function is:

RIGHT(text, [num_chars])

Where:

• text is the string from which you want to extract characters.
• [num_chars] is the number of characters you want to extract from the right side of the string.

To remove the last two characters from a string using the RIGHT function, you can use the following formula:

=RIGHT(A1, LEN(A1)-2)

This formula extracts all characters from the right side of the string except the last two.

Method 3: Using VBA Macro

If you want to remove the last two characters from a range of cells, you can use a VBA macro. Here's an example code that removes the last two characters from a selected range of cells:

Sub RemoveLastTwoChars()
    Dim cell As Range
    For Each cell In Selection
        cell.Value = Left(cell.Value, Len(cell.Value) - 2)
    Next cell
End Sub

To use this macro, follow these steps:

1. Press Alt + F11 to open the Visual Basic Editor.
2. In the Editor, click Insert > Module to insert a new module.
3. Paste the code into the module.
4. Close the Editor.
5. Select the range of cells from which you want to remove the last two characters.
6. Press Alt + F8 to open the Macro dialog box.
7. Select the "RemoveLastTwoChars" macro and click Run.

Method 4: Using Power Query

If you're using Excel 2013 or later, you can use Power Query to remove the last two characters from a table or range of cells. Here's an example:

1. Select the range of cells from which you want to remove the last two characters.
2. Go to the "Data" tab and click "From Table/Range".
3. In the Power Query Editor, click "Add Column" and then click "Custom Column".
4. In the formula bar, enter the following formula:

=Text.BeforeDelimiter([Column1],2)

Where [Column1] is the column from which you want to remove the last two characters.

5. Click "OK" to add the new column.
6. Right-click the new column and select "Remove Other Columns".
7. Click "Close & Load" to load the updated table into Excel.

Gallery of Remove Last Two Characters

Remove Last Two Characters Image Gallery

Conclusion

Removing the last two characters from a string in Excel can be achieved using various methods, including the LEFT function, RIGHT function, VBA macro, and Power Query. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of method depends on the specific requirements of the task. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily remove the last two characters from a string in Excel.

FAQ

Q: How do I remove the last two characters from a string in Excel? A: You can use the LEFT function, RIGHT function, VBA macro, or Power Query to remove the last two characters from a string in Excel.

Q: What is the syntax for the LEFT function in Excel? A: The syntax for the LEFT function is =LEFT(text, [num_chars]), where text is the string from which you want to extract characters, and [num_chars] is the number of characters you want to extract from the left side of the string.

Q: How do I use the RIGHT function to remove the last two characters from a string in Excel? A: You can use the RIGHT function to extract all characters from the right side of the string except the last two, using the formula =RIGHT(A1, LEN(A1)-2).

Q: Can I use a VBA macro to remove the last two characters from a range of cells in Excel? A: Yes, you can use a VBA macro to remove the last two characters from a range of cells in Excel. Simply create a macro that loops through the selected range and applies the LEFT function to each cell.

Q: How do I use Power Query to remove the last two characters from a table or range of cells in Excel? A: You can use Power Query to remove the last two characters from a table or range of cells in Excel by creating a custom column that uses the Text.BeforeDelimiter function.