Formula converting textstring to numeric value

[jakobt]

Having a text string including a number for instance 1000_ABCD in cell A1.

Setting up a formula in cell B1: left(A1,4)

I want the result to be stored as a value...as I later want to sort the column B in numeric order. (Account codes).

(I dont want to overwrite the formula and paste as values...

I want a formula which returns a value!?

 

[Norie]

Here's one way.

=LEFT(A1,4)+0