Formula IF statement returning #VALUE!

[I2omani]

A3=IF(FIND("-",A9),LEFT(A9,FIND("-",A9)-1),CONCATENATE(A9))

returning "#VALUE!" instead

What I am trying to accomplish is that if I typed/pasted ABCDEFG1-23 into cell A9, cell A3 then will display ABCDEFG1 and if I typed/pasted ABCDEFG1234 cell A9 would then equal the whole text in a cell A3

 

[Michael M]

Try this instead

=LEFT(A9,IFERROR(FIND("-",A9),999)-1)

 

[I2omani]

Try this instead

=LEFT(A9,IFERROR(FIND("-",A9),999)-1)

This worked! Can you please explain the logic behind it? also, what is the 999 for?when will I see it.
TIA

 

[Michael M]

you wont actually see 999.
What it is saying is, if there is an error return ALL of the string (up to 999 characters)