LEFT(A1,5) gives the same as LEFT(A2,5)

[teachman]

Hello,

I'm having issues with the LEFT workbook function. See below for the example with the formula of =LEFT(A2,4).

A B
[TABLE="width: 309"]
<colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody>[TR]
[TD]User Pedon ID[/TD]
[TD]4 left characters[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]S00CO6680033[/TD]
[TD]S00C[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]S00CO6680034[/TD]
[TD]S00C[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]S00KS055001-pit[/TD]
[TD]S00C[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

The same result appears everywhere the formula is used. If Column A has 30,000 entries and cell A15000 is S00CO6680033 using the same formula yields S00C. Any cell above B15000 the formula is copied to and any cell below B15001 the results are the same, S00C.

What is going on?

Thanks,
George Teachman

 

[RoryA]

Check that you haven't got calculation set to manual (it sounds like you have).

 

[teachman]

Rory,

Yep, that was it. It never dawned on me because I have never had any reason to use anything but automatic calculation. Looks like Excel is trying to think again.

Thanks,

George Teachman