Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Determining the Length of a String.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated February 29, 2020)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
It is hard to imagine a function used more often with strings than the Len function. This simple little function returns the length of any string. The following are a few examples:
A = Len(MyString) B = Len("This is a test")
The first line returns the length of the characters in the variable MyString. The second returns the number of characters between the quote marks (in this case, 14—remember that spaces count as characters).
If you want to determine the length of the information in a particular cell, you follow a bit different approach:
C = Len(ActiveSheet.Range(ActiveWindow.Selection.Address))
When this line is executed, it returns the length of whatever is in the currently selected cell.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2299) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Determining the Length of a String.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 2013 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access) with VBA programming, using it for writing macros, automating Office applications, and creating custom applications. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2013 today!
Need to know the address of the cell that is currently selected? There is no worksheet function to return this ...
Discover MoreDoes your macro need to allow the user to specify a particular file name that should be used by the macro? Here's a quick ...
Discover MoreGot a macro that you need to run on each of a number of workbooks? Excel provides a number of ways to go about this task, ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2024 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments