Remove the Last Character from a String

BeginnerText Manipulation

I want to remove the last digit from a serial number.

The Formula

=LEFT(A1, LEN(A1)-1)

How It Works

1

Identify the total length of the text.

2

Subtract 1 from the length.

3

Use LEFT to grab everything except that last character.

💡 Pro Tips

  • • Test the formula with sample data before applying to your entire dataset
  • • Use absolute references ($A$1) when copying formulas to prevent reference errors
  • • Consider error handling with IFERROR() for more robust formulas
  • • Document your formulas with comments for future reference

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Formula Details

Difficulty:Beginner
Category:Text Manipulation
Steps:3