How to Truncate Text from the Left in Excel -5 Methods

The dataset showcases Employee Name and Working Period. The dataset

Dataset to Truncate Text from Left in Excel

Method 1 – Using the Excel LEFT Function to Abbreviate Text from the Left

Apply the LEFT function.

Steps:

Select a new cell: D5 to keep the truncated text.
Use the formula below in D5.

=LEFT(C5,3)

The function returns a particular number of characters from the start of the text: 3.

Press ENTER to see the result.

Drag down the Fill Handle to see the result in the rest of the cells.

The joining months of all employees is displayed.

Read More: How to Truncate Text in Excel

Method 2 – Combine the LEFT & LEN Functions to Truncate Text from the Left

Steps:

Select a new cell: D5 to keep the truncated text.
Use the formula below:

=LEFT(C5, LEN(C5) - 17)

Press ENTER to see the result.

Formula Breakdown

Here, LEN(C5) returns the total number of characters of the text in C5.
- Output: 30.
30-17.
- Output: 13.
The LEFT(C5,13) function returns a number of characters: 13 characters from the leftmost character of the text in C5.
- Output: August, 2012.

Drag down the Fill Handle to see the result in the rest of the cells.
This is the output.

Method 3 – Using the MID Function to Truncate Text from the Left in Excel

Apply the MID function.

Steps:

Select a new cell: D5 to keep the result.
Use the formula below.

=MID(C5,1,3)

The MID function returns a number of characters between the 1st character and the 3rd character in C5.

Press ENTER to see the result.

Drag down the Fill Handle to see the result in the rest of the cells.
This is the output.

Method 4 – Applying the Excel Flash Fill Feature to Shorten Text from the Left

Steps:

Enter the target result manually. Here, “Aug”, and “Ma”, and got the suggestion:

Press ENTER to see the result.
This is the output.

Note: This method will work only in Excel 365 version.

Method 5 – Truncate Text from the Left applying a User-Defined Function in Excel

Steps:

Go to the Developer tab >> select Visual Basic.

In Insert >> select Module.

Enter the following Code in the Module.

Function Truncate_Txt_frm_Left(my_Text As String, removed_num_of_string As Long)
  Truncate_Txt_frm_Left = Left(my_Text, Len(my_Text) - removed_num_of_string)
End Function

Code Breakdown

creates a Function: Truncate_Txt_frm_Left.
declares the variable my_Text as a String to call the text, and another variable removed_num_of_string as Long to insert a number.
With the Left and Len functions, a function was created: Truncate_Txt_frm_Left.