Remove First Two Characters In Excel Easily

Removing the first two characters in Excel can be a tedious task, especially when dealing with large datasets. However, there are several methods to achieve this, and we will explore the easiest and most efficient ways to do so.

Understanding the Problem

When working with Excel, you may encounter situations where you need to remove the first two characters from a cell or a range of cells. This can be due to various reasons such as correcting formatting errors, extracting specific data, or preparing data for analysis.

Method 1: Using the RIGHT Function

One of the easiest ways to remove the first two characters in Excel is by using the RIGHT function. This function returns the specified number of characters from the right side of a text string.

To use the RIGHT function, follow these steps:

• Select the cell where you want to display the result
• Type =RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-2), assuming the text is in cell A1
• Press Enter to get the result

The formula =RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-2) tells Excel to return all characters from the right side of the text string in cell A1, except for the first two characters.

How the Formula Works

• LEN(A1) returns the length of the text string in cell A1
• LEN(A1)-2 subtracts 2 from the length, effectively ignoring the first two characters
• RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-2) returns the remaining characters from the right side of the text string

Method 2: Using the MID Function

Another method to remove the first two characters in Excel is by using the MID function. This function returns a specified number of characters from a text string, starting from a specified position.

To use the MID function, follow these steps:

• Select the cell where you want to display the result
• Type =MID(A1,3,LEN(A1)-2), assuming the text is in cell A1
• Press Enter to get the result

The formula =MID(A1,3,LEN(A1)-2) tells Excel to return all characters from the text string in cell A1, starting from the third character, and ignoring the first two characters.

How the Formula Works

• 3 specifies the starting position, which is the third character
• LEN(A1)-2 specifies the length of the text to return, effectively ignoring the first two characters
• MID(A1,3,LEN(A1)-2) returns the remaining characters from the text string

Method 3: Using VBA Macro

If you need to remove the first two characters from a large dataset, using a VBA macro can be an efficient way to do so.

To create a VBA macro, follow these steps:

• Open the Visual Basic Editor by pressing Alt+F11 or by navigating to Developer > Visual Basic in the ribbon
• In the Visual Basic Editor, click Insert > Module to insert a new module
• Paste the following code in the module:

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

• Save the module by clicking File > Save or by pressing Ctrl+S

To run the macro, follow these steps:

• Select the range of cells where you want to remove the first two characters
• Press Alt+F8 or navigate to Developer > Macros in the ribbon
• Select the RemoveFirstTwoCharacters macro and click Run

Gallery of Excel Functions

Excel Functions Gallery

In conclusion, removing the first two characters in Excel can be achieved using various methods, including the RIGHT function, MID function, and VBA macro. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of method depends on the specific requirements of your project.

We hope this article has provided you with a comprehensive guide on how to remove the first two characters in Excel. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to ask.