VBA Left function in Excel is categorized as a Text/String function in VBA. It is a built-in function in MS Office Excel. It returns the specified number of characters from a given string, starting from the left most character. It has two mandatory parameters.
It can use as a Worksheet function or VBA function. The VBA Left function can be used in either procedure or function in a VBA editor window in Excel. We can use this VBA Left function any number of times in any number of procedures or functions. In the following section we learn what is the syntax and parameters of the Left function, where we can use this VBA Left function and real-time examples.
- Overview
- Syntax of VBA Left Function
- Parameters or Arguments
- Where we can apply or use the VBA Left Function?
- Example 1: Extract a substring of length 5 from starting of the string
- Example 2: Extract a substring of length 30 from starting of the string
- Example 3: Get First Name from Full Name using Left Function
- Example 4: Get Email Id from email using Left Function
- Quick View Examples & Results
- Instructions to Run VBA Macro Code
- Other Useful Resources
Syntax of VBA Left Function
The syntax of the VBA Left function is
Left (string, [length])
Note: This Left function returns a sub-string (Specified number of characters) from left side.
Parameters or Arguments
There are two mandatory parameters or arguments for the Left Function.
Where
string: The string is a mandatory argument. The string from which we want to extract a substring.
Length: The length is a required argument. It represents the number of characters of the substring that you want to extract from a string.
Where we can apply or use the VBA Left Function?
We can use this VBA Left function in MS Office 365, MS Excel 2016, MS Excel 2013, 2011, Excel 2010, Excel 2007, Excel 2003, Excel 2016 for Mac, Excel 2011 for Mac, Excel Online, Excel for iPhone, Excel for iPad, Excel for Android tablets and Excel for Android Mobiles.
Example 1: Extract a substring of length 5 from starting of the string
Here is a simple example of the VBA Left function. This below example macro uses the Left function and extracts the left most four characters from a given string.
'Extract a substring of length 5 from starting of the string. Sub VBA_LEFT_Function_Ex1() Dim sString As String, sSubString As String sString = "Life is Beautiful" sSubString = Left(sString, 4) MsgBox "The substring is :" & sSubString, vbInformation, "VBA Left Function" End Sub
Output: Here is the screen shot of first example output.
Example 2: Extract a sub-string of length 30 from starting of the string
Here is another example of the VBA Left function. This below example macro uses the Left function and extracts the left most 30 characters from a given string. There are only 17 available characters. So, it displays only 17 characters instead of 30 characters.
'Extract a substring of length 30 from starting of the string. Sub VBA_LEFT_Function_Ex2() Dim sString As String, sSubString As String sString = "Life is Beautiful" sSubString = Left(sString, 30) MsgBox "The substring is :" & sSubString, vbInformation, "VBA Left Function" End Sub
Output:Here is the screen shot of second example output.
Example 3: Get First Name from Full Name using Left Function
Here is one more example. We are extracting a first name from full name using Instr and Left function.
'Get First Name from Full Name using Left Function Sub VBA_LEFT_Function_Ex3() Dim sString As String Dim sFName As String Dim sPosition As Integer Dim sSubString As String sString = "F_Name L_Name" sPosition = InStr(1, sString, " ") sFName = Left(sString, sPosition - 1) MsgBox "The First Name is :" & sFName, vbInformation, "VBA Left Function" End Sub
Output:Here is the screen shot of third example output.
Example 4: Get Email Id from email using Left Function
Here is another example for Left function. Here getting Email Id from email using Instr and Left functions.
'Get Email Id from email using Left Function Sub VBA_Left_Function_Ex4() Dim sString As String Dim sEName As String Dim sPosition As Integer Dim sSubString As String sString = "ABCD@hotmail.com" sPosition = InStr(1, sString, "@") sEName = Left(sString, sPosition - 1) MsgBox "Specified Email Id is :" & sEName, vbInformation, "VBA Left Function" End Sub
Output:Here is the screen shot of fourth example output.
Quick View Examples & Results
You can find quick view of Left function examples and its results.
'VBA Left Function Quick View Examples Sub VBA_Left_Function() Dim sString As String, sSubString As String sString = "FName LName" sSubString = Left(sString, 5) 'Result: 'FName' Debug.Print sSubString sSubString = Left(sString, 6) 'Result: 'FName ' Debug.Print sSubString sSubString = Left(sString, 50) 'Result: 'FName LName' Debug.Print sSubString sSubString = Left(sString, 0) 'Result: Displays Nothing Debug.Print sSubString sSubString = Left(sString, -1) 'Result: Displays Error Debug.Print sSubString End Sub
Instructions to Run VBA Macro Code or Procedure:
You can refer the following link for the step by step instructions.
Instructions to run VBA Macro Code
Other Useful Resources:
Click on the following links of the useful resources. These helps to learn and gain more knowledge.
VBA Tutorial VBA Functions List VBA Arrays in Excel Blog
VBA Editor Keyboard Shortcut Keys List VBA Interview Questions & Answers