How to Remove the First Character from a String in Excel with VBA?

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In this article, I will show you how you can remove the first character from a string in Excel with VBA. You’ll learn two easy procedures to remove the first character using a Macro and a User-Defined Function.


VBA Code to Remove the First Character from a String in Excel (Quick View)

Sub Remove_First_Character()

On Error GoTo Message

Dim n As Integer
n = Int(InputBox("Enter the Number of First Characters to Remove: "))
For i = 1 To Selection.Rows.Count
    For j = 1 To Selection.Columns.Count
        Selection.Cells(i, j) = Right(Selection.Cells(i, j), Len(Selection.Cells(i, j)) - n)
    Next j
Next i

Exit Sub

Message:
    MsgBox Str(n) + " is greater than the length of the strings."

End Sub

VBA Code to Remove the First Character from a String in Excel

Read more: How to Remove First Character in Excel


How to Remove the First Character from a String in Excel with VBA: 2 Easy Ways

Here we’ve got a data set with the Names and Student IDs of some students of a school called Sunflower Kindergarten.

Data Set to Remove the First Character from a String with VBA in Excel

Today, our objective is to remove the first character from the Student IDs with VBA.


1. Develop a Macro to Remove the First Character from a String with VBA in Excel

You can create and run a Macro using a VBA code to remove the last character from a string or a range of strings.

Step 1: Opening the VBA Window

Press ALT+F11 on your keyboard. The VBA window will open.

Opening the VBA Window to Remove the First Character from a String with VBA in Excel

Step 2: Inserting a New Module

Go to the Insert tab in the VBA window. 

From the options available, select Module.

Step 3: Entering the VBA Code

A new module window called “Module 1” will open. 

Insert the following VBA code in the module.

⧪ Code:

Sub Remove_First_Character()

On Error GoTo Message

Dim n As Integer
n = Int(InputBox("Enter the Number of First Characters to Remove: "))
For i = 1 To Selection.Rows.Count
    For j = 1 To Selection.Columns.Count
        Selection.Cells(i, j) = Right(Selection.Cells(i, j), Len(Selection.Cells(i, j)) - n)
    Next j
Next i

Exit Sub

Message:
    MsgBox Str(n) + " is greater than the length of the strings."

End Sub

Notes:

  • This code produces a Macro called Remove_First_Character.
  • Here, it removes not only the first character(s) from a string but also the first digit(s) from a number.

VBA Code to Remove the First Character from a String in Excel

Explanation of the Code:

  • Sub Remove_First_Character() starts a Macro called Remove_First_Character.
  • On Error GoTo Message instructs the code to go to the label called Message in the 11th line if it faces any error while executing.
  • Dim n As Integer declares a variable of data type Integer, of dimension 1 by 1 (default).
  • n = Int(InputBox(“Enter the Number of First Characters to Remove: “)) asks for an input n, this is the number of characters you want to remove from the left.
  • For i = 1 To Selection.Rows.Count starts an iteration of the number of times equal to the number of rows of your selected range.
  • For j = 1 To Selection.Columns.Count starts an iteration of the number of times equal to the number of columns of your selected range.
  • Selection.Cells(i, j) = Right(Selection.Cells(i, j), Len(Selection.Cells(i, j)) – n) removes the first character(s) of your selected range. This is the most important line.
  • For details, see the Right function of VBA.
  • Next j ends the second for loop.
  • Next i end the first for loop.
  • Exit Sub instructs the code to come out of the Macro.
  • Message: starts a label called Message that will be called if the code encounters an error while executing.
  • MsgBox Str(n) + ” is greater than the length of the strings.” instructs the code to show the message if it faces an error.
  • End Sub ends the Macro.

Step 4: Saving the Macro-Enabled Workbook

Next, save the workbook as an Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook.

Saving the Macro-Enabled Workbook to Remove the First Character from a String with VBA in Excel

Step 5: Selecting Cells to Remove the First Characters

➤ Return to your worksheet.

➤ Then select the range in your worksheet from where you want to delete the first character. Here, I have selected the column Student ID (C4:C13).

Step 6: Running the Macro

➤ Then press ALT+F8 on your keyboard.

➤ A dialogue box called Macro will open. Select Remove_First_Character (The name of the Macro) and click on Run.

Running Macro to Remove the First Character from a String with VBA in Excel

Step 7: Entering the Input (How Many First Characters You Want to Remove: )

An Input Box will appear asking you to enter the number of characters you want to remove.

For the sake of this example, I have entered 1.

Input Box to Remove the First Character from a String with VBA in Excel

Step 8: The Final Output!

You will get the desired number of first characters removed from your selected range of cells.

Read more: How to Remove the Last 3 Characters in Excel


2. Create a User Defined Function to Remove the First Character from a String with VBA in Excel

If you don’t want to change the original data set, you can create a User Defined Function using a VBA code.

Then use the function to remove the first character(s) from your data set elsewhere in your worksheet.

Step 1: The Initial Steps

Run Steps 1-3 from the previous method to open the VBA window and insert a new module.

Then insert the following code in the module.

Code:

Function RemoveFirstCharacter(rng As Variant, number As Integer)

Dim Output As Variant
number_of_rows = rng.Rows.Count
number_of_columns = rng.Columns.Count
ReDim Output(number_of_rows - 1, number_of_columns - 1)

For i = 0 To number_of_rows - 1
    For j = 0 To number_of_columns - 1
        Output(i, j) = Right(rng(i + 1, j + 1), Len(rng(i + 1, j + 1)) - number)
    Next j
Next i

RemoveFirstCharacter = Output

End Function

Notes:

  • This code creates a User Defined Function called RemoveFirstCaracter.
  • The function takes two inputs: range and number of characters to be removed.

Code to Remove the First Character from a String with VBA in Excel

Explanation of the Code:

  • Function RemoveFirstCharacter(rng As Variant, number As Integer) starts a User-Defined Function called RemoveFirstCharacter.
  • It takes two inputs- a range of cells called rng, and an integer called number.
  • Dim Output As Variant declares an array of values (of any data type) called Output.
  • number_of_rows = rng.Rows.Count declares an integer called number_of_rows whose value is equal to the number of rows of the range called rng.
  • number_of_columns = rng.Columns.Count declares an integer called number_of_columns whose value is equal to the number of columns of the range called rng.
  • ReDim Output(number_of_rows – 1, number_of_columns – 1) sets the dimension of the array Output to number_of_rows – 1 and number_of_columns – 1.
  • For i = 0 To number_of_rows – 1 starts an iteration of times one less than the integer number_of_rows.
  • For j = 0 To number_of_columns – 1 starts an iteration of times one less than the integer number_of_columns.
  • Output(i, j) = Right(rng(i + 1, j + 1), Len(rng(i + 1, j + 1)) – number) removes the first character(s) from each value of the range rng and sets them as the values of the array Output.
  • For details, see the Right function of VBA.
  • Next j ends the second for loop.
  • Next i ends the first for loop.
  • RemoveFirstCharacter = Output sets the array Output as the output of the function.
  • End Function ends the function.

Step 2: Running the Function

Come back to your worksheet.

Then select the first cell of a new column and enter this formula:

=RemoveFirstCharacter(range,number of characters to be removed)
  • Here, range is the range of strings whose first character(s) you want to remove. In this example, it is C4:C13 (Student ID).
  • And number of characters to be removed is the number of characters you want to remove from the left. In this example, it is 1.

Therefore, the formula will be:

=RemoveFirstCharacter(C4:C13,1)
[It’s an Array Formula. So press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER, unless you are in Office 365.]

User Defined Function to Remove the First Character from a String with VBA in Excel

Step 3: The Final Output

You will find an array of strings created in your selected cells, after removing the first character(s) from your input range.

Read more: How to Remove First 3 Characters in Excel


Things to Remember

  • The Right function of VBA removes character(s) from the left of a given string.
  • Alternatively, the Left function removes character(s) from the right, and the MID function removes characters from both sides.

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Conclusion

Using these methods, you can remove the first character(s) from a string with VBA in Excel. Do you know any other method? Or do you have any questions? Feel free to ask us.


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Rifat Hassan
Rifat Hassan

Hello! Welcome to my profile. Here I will be posting articles related to Microsoft Excel. I am a passionate Electrical Engineer holding a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. Besides academic studies, I always love to keep pace with the revolution in technology that the world is rushing towards day by day. I am diligent, career-oriented, and ready to cherish knowledge throughout my life.

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