The FIND function
The position of one text within another, case included. It is mostly used for cutting: everything before the space, the hyphen, the at sign.
Syntax
=FIND(find_text, within_text, [start_num])
In a French Excel: =TROUVE(texte_cherché; texte; [no_départ]).
Arguments
- find_text: what to look for, no wildcards.
- within_text: where to look.
- start_num: from which character.
An example
=LEFT(A2,FIND("@",A2)-1)
The part of an email address before the at sign.
Pitfalls
- Text not found: #VALUE!.
- Case matters: "Paris" is not found in "PARIS".
Going further
Frequently asked questions
- How do I avoid #VALUE! when the text is missing?
- Search in the text followed by the character:
FIND(" ",A2&" ")always finds at least the end.