Removing all characters to the right of a string in a cell

[Banditeb]

I have a cell that contains 2/1/18..2/28/18 and I would like to remove everything to the right of the .. including the .. so my new cell would be only 2/1/18

I can not do it by removing a number of characters because I have instances with more characters (ie: 12/1/18..12/31/18)

Appreciate the help.

 

[steve the fish]

You could try:

=IFERROR(LEFT(A1,FIND("..",A1)-1),A1)

 

[Banditeb]

That worked...Thanks!

 

[Rick Rothstein]

You could try:

=IFERROR(LEFT(A1,FIND("..",A1)-1),A1)

Rather than checking for an error and returning A1 when there is an error (returns 0 if A1 is blank by the way), giving it ".." to find is probably a better way do it (returns "" for a blank A1)...

=LEFT(A1,FIND("..",A1&"..")-1)

 

[steve the fish]

I just see that as a different way rather than a better way if im honest. They handle the fact that no ".." is found in a different way. Its easy to mitigate the 0 result if so desired isnt it.

 

[Rick Rothstein]

I just see that as a different way rather than a better way if im honest. They handle the fact that no ".." is found in a different way. Its easy to mitigate the 0 result if so desired isnt it.

The reason I said "is probably a better way" (note the word "probably") is because my formula has one less function call than the formula you posted... to mitigate the 0 would add yet another function call to your formula.