Excel MID Function
Summary
The Excel MID function extracts a given number of characters from the middle of a supplied text string. For example, =MID("apple",2,3) returns "ppl".
Purpose
Extract text from inside a string
Return value
The characters extracted.
Syntax
=MID (text, start_num, num_chars)
Arguments
- text - The text to extract from.
- start_num - The location of the first character to extract.
- num_chars - The number of characters to extract.
Usage notes
- MID returns a specific number of characters from a text string, starting at start_num and continuing through start_num + num_chars.
- Use the MID function when you want to extract text from inside a text string, based on location and length.
- You can use FIND or SEARCH to locate start_num when you don't know the location in advance.
MID formula examples
To list worksheets in an Excel workbook, you can use a 2-step approach: (1) define a named range called "sheetnames" with an old macro command and (2) use an INDEX formula to retrieve sheet names using the named range....
If you want to get the sheet name only (i.e. the sheet name without the file name or path) you can do so with rather long formula that uses the MID function along with the FIND function. The final result will look...
To extract lines from a multi-line cell, you can use a clever (and intimidating) formula that combines 5 Excel functions: TRIM, MID, SUBSTITUTE, REPT, and LEN.
In the example shown, the formula in D5 is:
=TRIM(MID(...
To extract a word that contains specific text,you can use a formula based on several functions, including TRIM, LEFT, SUBSTITUTE, MID, MAX, and REPT. You can use this formula to extract things like email addresses, or...
To highlight numbers less than a certain value, including numbers entered as text like "
To strip html or other markup from values in cells, you can use the MID function.
In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:
=MID(B5,4,LEN(B5)-7)
How this formula works
The MID function returns characters using a...
To split dimensions that like 100x50x25 into three separate parts, you can use some rather complicated formulas that use LEFT, MID, RIGHT, FIND, LEN, and SUBSTITUTE.
Note: you can also use Flash Fill in Excel 2013 and...
To remove non-numeric characters from a text string, you can try this experimental formula based on the TEXTJOIN function, new in Excel 2016. In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:
{=TEXTJOIN("",TRUE,...
To remove numeric characters from a text string, you can try this experimental formula based on the TEXTJOIN function, new in Excel 2016. In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:
=TEXTJOIN("",TRUE,IF(...
To use data validation to allow a list of specific characters only, you can use a rather complicated array formula based on the COUNT, MATCH, and LEN functions. In the example shown, data validation is applied with this...
To extract text between parentheses, braces, brackets, etc. you can use a formula based on the MID function, with help from SEARCH function. In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:
=MID(B5,SEARCH("(",B5...
If you need to get the middle name from a full name, and you already have the first and last names in separate cells, you can use a formula that extracts the middle name using the MID and LEN functions, with help from...
To convert dates in text format dd/mm/yy to a true date in mm/dd/yy format, you can use uses a formula based on the DATE function. In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:
=DATE(RIGHT(B5,2)+2000,MID(B5,4,2),LEFT(B5...
To extract words that begin with a specific character, you can use a formula based on six functions: TRIM, LEFT, SUBSTITUTE, MID, LEN, and REPT. This approach is useful if you need to extract things like a Twitter user...
To remove the protocol (i.e. http://, ftp://, etc.) and trailing slash from a URL, you can use a formual based on the MID, FIND, and LEN functions. In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:
=MID(B5,FIND("//...
Related functions
Good links
