If Cell Starts with Text String... Formula

excel, excel-formula

Solution

I'm not sure lookup is the right formula for this because of multiple arguments. Maybe hlookup or vlookup but these require you to have tables for values. A simple nested series of if does the trick for a small sample size

Try `=IF(A1="a","pickup",IF(A1="b","collect",IF(A1="c","prepaid","")))`

Now incorporate your `left` argument

`=IF(LEFT(A1,1)="a","pickup",IF(LEFT(A1,1)="b","collect",IF(LEFT(A1,1)="c","prepaid","")))`

Also note your usage of left, your argument doesn't specify the number of characters, but a set.

7/8/15 - Microsoft KB articles for the above mentioned functions. I don't think there's anything wrong with `techonthenet`, but I rather link to official sources.

- lookup

- hlookup

- vlookup

- if

- left

Problem

I have formula that checks if the cell starts with text "A" returns Pick up "B" for Collect and C for Prepaid. But it doesn't seems to be working properly Both A and C returns Prepaid... `=LOOKUP(LEFT(A1),{"A","B","C"},{"Pick Up","Collect","Prepaid"})`

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