using the value in a specific cell in a formula in another cell

[Jeffrey Green]

i have to parse out a text string that is 500 characters long . . . (no delimiters, just positional data).
but a lot of the data is blank. My text string is in column A, starting in Row 2 and in cell B2, i want to put a simple formula, =LEFT(A1,X), where X the number i type into C1.
This will make my life a little easier in parsing out this string.

Little things in life make me happy.

I thought Indirect would work, but not the way i use it.

Thanks!

 

[Jeffrey Green]

Solved,
=LEFT(A2,INDIRECT("c1"))
I didnt put C1 in quotes.

thanks

 

[JoeMo]

Maybe: =LEFT(A1,C1)