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CALC : Extract first word from a sentence.

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jeanochev Posted messages 123 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   -  
jeanochev Posted messages 123 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   -

Hello,

In the example sentence from a list of definitions, "QUITUS n.m. Dr. Acte de reconnaissance d'une bonne gestion.", how can I extract the first word regardless of the number of letters in the word, that is to say, up to the space?

I simply want to pull out the defined word in the left column.

Thank you for your solution


4 answers

  1.
    JCB40 Posted messages 3062 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   479
     

    Hello

    If your string of words is in A1

    Formula to put in the cell where you want the result

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

    Best regards

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  2. jeanochev Posted messages 123 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   3
     

    Good evening,

    Thank you, it works.

    I would appreciate an explanation for " " and -1 that would help me understand how it works.

    Best regards.

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  3. Raymond PENTIER Posted messages 58219 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   17 485
     

    Hello.

    1. " ", that's the space you're talking about here: how to extract the first word regardless of the number of letters in the word, that is to say up to the space?
    2. The FIND function, if you have looked carefully at its syntax in Excel Help, returns the position of the first character of the searched word. In your example, the space is in the seventh position; therefore, the LEFT function must extract the first 6 characters of the definition.
      If you only used the formula =LEFT(A1;FIND(" ";A1) ), you would get {QUITUS } instead of {QUITUS} !

    Retirement is great! Especially in the Antilles...
    Raymond (INSA, AFPA)

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  4. jeanochev Posted messages 123 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   3
     

    Hello,

    Thank you for your explanations.

    Best regards

    0