Thread: Locate and length functions

I am looking for a locate function, WHat I need to do is
find the length of a string up to the first instance of
particular character and determine how many characters are
before it, then use that result in a left statement

something like

x=length(string,locate("-"))
left(string,x)

x = Instr(String,"-")
y = left(string,x)

--
regards,
Tom Ogilvy

"Nigel Bennett" <nigelben@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:11d301c5534c$00cf4250$a401280a@phx.gbl...
> I am looking for a locate function, WHat I need to do is
> find the length of a string up to the first instance of
> particular character and determine how many characters are
> before it, then use that result in a left statement
>
> something like
>
> x=length(string,locate("-"))
> left(string,x)
>

Nigel

Try the InStr() function

InStr(1,"Nick Hodge","o")

returns 7

--
HTH
Nick Hodge
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Southampton, England
nick_hodgeTAKETHISOUT@zen.co.uk.ANDTHIS

"Nigel Bennett" <nigelben@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:11d301c5534c$00cf4250$a401280a@phx.gbl...
>I am looking for a locate function, WHat I need to do is
> find the length of a string up to the first instance of
> particular character and determine how many characters are
> before it, then use that result in a left statement
>
> something like
>
> x=length(string,locate("-"))
> left(string,x)
>

Try the find function in Excel or the instr() in VBA

"Nigel Bennett" wrote:

> I am looking for a locate function, WHat I need to do is
> find the length of a string up to the first instance of
> particular character and determine how many characters are
> before it, then use that result in a left statement
>
> something like
>
> x=length(string,locate("-"))
> left(string,x)
>
>