Nuraida Kashmin
Sometimes we need to remove the first character from the string to make the dataset shorter as well as pleasing. Today in this article, we are going to learn how to remove the first character from a string in Excel. Let’s see how you guys absorb it.
Download Practice Workbook
You may download the following Excel workbook for better understanding and practice it by yourself.
6 Easy Ways to Remove the First Character from String in Excel
Method 1: Combining RIGHT & LEN Functions to Remove First Character in Excel
By combining the RIGHT & LEN functions, we can easily remove the first character from a string. Excel Right function extracts the last characters of a string and returns the value. Where the LEN function counts the total number of characters of a string. Assuming we have a dataset of Microsoft products. We are going to remove the first character of each product.
Steps:
- First, select cell C5.
- Second, type the formula:
=RIGHT(B5,LEN(B5)-1)
- Finally, hit Enter and use the Fill Handle tool to see the result.
Read more: How to Remove Characters from Left in Excel
Method 2: Inserting REPLACE Function to Remove First Character from String in Excel
Excel REPLACE function alternates the character or string of characters with another string. To remove the first character from the string, we can use this function. Imagine we have a dataset of Microsoft products.
Steps:
- First, select cell C5.
- Next type the formula:
=REPLACE(B5,1,1,"")
In this formula, we’ve selected the text string in Cell B5. Then we’ve indicated the starting position of the text string and the number of characters we want to replace. At last, the new text will replace the old one.
- Finally, press Enter and drag down the Fill Handle to autofill the entire column. We can see the final result in the following screenshot.
Read more: Remove Last Character from String Excel
Method 3: Nesting MID & LEN Functions for Removing First Character in Excel
Here we have a dataset of Microsoft products. We are going to remove the first character of each of them by the combination of MID & LEN functions. The LEN function counts the total number of characters of a text string. Besides MID function pulls out the specified number of characters from the middle of a text string and returns the value.
Steps:
- Firstly, select cell C5.
- After that, type the formula:
=MID(B5,2,LEN(B5)-1)
- Press Enter.
- Finally, we can see all the outputs by using the Fill handle.
Read more: Excel Remove Characters From Right
Method 4: Applying Text to Columns Option to Remove First Character
We can use the Text to Columns option from the Data tab in Excel to remove the first character from the text string. It can split one cell into multiple columns. Now we are going to use this option for the below dataset and remove the first character.
Steps:
- Firstly, select all the required cells.
- Secondly, go to the Data tab > Text to Columns.
- Now, a Wizard Step 1 window pops up.
- Then select Fixed width and click Next.
- After that, in Wizard Step 2 window, go to the Data preview
- Besides, to insert a vertical line, click between the first & second characters.
- Now select Next.
- In Wizard Step 3 window, select ‘Do not import column (skip)’.
- Now select the place where we want to see the final result in the Destination
- In the Data preview, make sure the first column is selected in Black.
- Next, select Finish.
- Once we click on it, we can see the result.
Read more: How to Remove Characters in Excel
Method 5: Employing Flash Fill Feature for Removing First Character
Flash Fill is used at entering value with a pattern. This feature is not widely used to serve a particular purpose but this is a handy one when you want to remove a character.
Steps:
- Here we have a Microsoft products dataset.
- Firstly, choose cell C5.
- Secondly, type the result we want to see and hit Enter.
- Now in the next Cell C6, when we start to type, it will guess the pattern and show us the preview of the result.
- Then, hit Enter and we will see the result.
Read more: How to Remove Non-numeric Characters from Cells in Excel
Method 6: Using VBA Code to Remove First Character in Excel
Assuming we have a dataset of Microsoft products in the Text String column. We have to add a helper column beside the first one where the number of characters to be removed will be present for each corresponding text string. Using VBA code, we can easily remove the first character from the string.
Steps:
- Firstly, select the worksheet from the Sheet tab and click on View Code.
- Then, a VBA Module window shows up.
- After that, type the below VBA code.
Option Explicit
Sub RemoveFirstCharacter()
'declare a variable
Dim Sheet As Worksheet
Set Sheet = Worksheets("VBA")
'apply the formula to remove the first character from a string
Sheet.Range("D5") = Right(Sheet.Range("B5"), Len(Sheet.Range("B5")) - Sheet.Range("C5"))
End Sub- After that, enter the Run option or press F5.
- So, we can see the result on the required cell.
- Finally, use Flash Fill to see the final result.
Conclusion
These are the easy ways to remove the first character from the string in Excel. There is a practice workbook added. Go ahead and give it a try. Feel free to ask anything or suggest any new methods.
Related Readings
- Extract Text Before Character in Excel (4 Quick Ways)
- How to Remove Spaces in Excel: With Formula, VBA & Power Query
- How to Remove Specific Characters in Excel ( 5 Ways)
- Remove Last Character from String in Excel with VBA (2 Easy Ways)
- VBA to Remove Characters from String in Excel (7 Methods)
- How to Remove Last Character in Excel(Easiest 6 Ways)
