XL: Using Left, Right, Mid and Len in Visual Basic

ID: Q141287

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

This article contains examples of how to manipulate text strings using the Left, Right, Mid, and Len functions in Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications in Microsoft Excel.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web: 

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/
To use the following sample Visual Basic macro, you must set up a Microsoft Excel file as follows:

1. Create a new, blank Microsoft Excel workbook.

2. To insert a new Visual Basic module sheet, click the Insert menu, point 

   to Macro, and then click Module.

   In Microsoft Excel 97 or Microsoft Excel 98, click the Tools menu, point
   to Macro, and then click Visual Basic Editor. On the Insert menu, click
   Module.
3. Type the following macro in the new module sheet: 

      Sub String_Len()
          ' Sets MyString.
          MyString = InputBox("Enter some text.")
          ' Displays length of string.
          MsgBox Prompt:="The length of the string is " & _
              Len(MyString) & " characters."
      End Sub

      Sub String_Left()
          ' Sets MyString.
          MyString = InputBox("Enter some text.")
          StringLen = Len(MyString)
          Pos = InputBox("Please enter a number from 1 to " & StringLen)
          ' Takes the left number of specified characters.
          Result = Left(MyString, Pos)
          ' Displays the result.
          MsgBox Prompt:="The left " & Pos & " characters of """ & _
              MyString & """ are: " & _
              Chr(13) & Result
      End Sub

      Sub String_Right()
          ' Sets MyString.
          MyString = InputBox("Enter some text.")
          StringLen = Len(MyString)
          Pos = InputBox("Please enter a number from 1 to " & StringLen)
          ' Takes the right number of specified digits.
          Result = Right(MyString, Pos)
          ' Displays the result.
          MsgBox Prompt:="The right " & Pos & " characters of """ & _
              MyString & """ are: " & _
              Chr(13) & Result
      End Sub

      Sub String_Mid()
          ' Sets MyString.
          MyString = InputBox("Enter some text.")
          ' Sets starting position.
          StartPos = InputBox _
              ("Give me a starting position (1 to " _
              & Len(MyString) & ")")
          ' Determines length of string of text.
          StringLen = Len(MyString) - StartPos + 1
          ' Sets number of characters.
          NumChars = InputBox _
              ("How many characters would you like? (From 1 to " & _
              StringLen & ")")
          MsgBox prompt:="The result is: " & _
              Mid(MyString, StartPos, NumChars)
      End Sub
To see an example of the Len function, click Macro on the Tools menu, select the String_Len macro, and then click Run. To see an example of the Left, Right and Mid functions, click Macro again and select String_Left, String_Right, and String_Mid respectively.

In Microsoft Excel 97 and Microsoft Excel 98, click the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros. Click the name of the macro you want to run, and then click Run.

REFERENCES

For more information about these functions, type the following on a module sheet 

   Len
   Right
   Left
   Mid
select the function that you want more information about, and press the F1 key in Microsoft Excel for Windows or the Help key in Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh.

Additional query words: 5.00 5.00c 7.00 8.00 XL97 XL98 XL7 XL5 

Keywords          : kbprg kbdta kbdtacode PgmHowto KbVBA 
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,97; MACINTOSH:5.0,98
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: May 17, 1999