Removing Everything After Certain Character

[rykermason]

I have an excel sheet with names and some description after them.

For example:

Johnny Walker:Blahblahblah

I wanted to removed everything starting from the colon symbol so I would just have the name remaining. Any help would be appreciated thanks.

[jeffreybrown]

Hi & Welcome to the forum,

Try...

=LEFT(A1,FIND(":",A1)-1)

[rykermason]

Hello and thank you Jefferybrown

By the way, I tried that and it worked, however, I need it to go from multiple cells, A1 to A684. Sorry, I'm a totally noobie when it comes computer stuff. Thanks for helping though.

[jeffreybrown]

When you say you need it to go A1:A684, I would assume each cell has its own data.

Just drag the formula down to A684.

[rykermason]

Correct, each cell has its own data. I placed =LEFT(A1,FIND(":",A1)-1) in cell B1 and I dragged the selection down, but it seems to only capture the first cell in A1.

For example:
Cell A1: Johnny Walker: He is a cool guy
Cell A2: Jim Bean: This guy is really tall
Cell A3: Tiffany: She is pretty

Now the string I put into B1 I clicked cell A1 and dragged it down to A3 and it only inputs "Johnny Walker" in cell B1 after I'm done. Any clue on what is happening?

I want if it is possible for everything in column A to transfer into new cells in column B.

[jeffreybrown]

Please look at the attachment and let me know if this is what you want?

[rykermason]

Yeah that is exactly what I want, but when I put the string into B1, it only gets the name from A1. Is it possible to enter the string into B1 and drag the selection from A1:A500 and it will put it in the B column and row correlating to the A row?

I just don't want to have to manually do it for each one.

[jeffreybrown]

Yes.

Okay you have A1:A500 filled with this or that.

In B1 enter the formula and select >> Ctrl + Enter which will keep you on the cell or if the formula is already there then just select the cell.

Look at the bottom right corner of the cell and you will see a little black square which is the fill handle.

Double click on the fill handle and it will fill the formula down as far as the list in A.

If there is a gap in A it will only fill down to the break in data...if no break then it will auto fill down to A500

[rykermason]

Ahh thanks jeffrey, it worked. You're a life saver, thanks for the time and all the help you've given me.

[jeffreybrown]

Glad it worked for you...