WPS MID is a text function in WPS Spreadsheets that extracts a fixed number of characters from a text string starting at a specified position; this guide covers 3 core tasks, with 3 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.
At a Glance
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core tasks | 3 | Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index |
| Available without membership | 3 | Matches the number of Free rows in the index |
| Membership-related items | 0 | This topic does not require membership |
| Version limits | None specified | The function can be used directly in WPS Spreadsheets |
About This Feature
Overview
MID is a built-in text function in WPS Spreadsheets for extracting part of a string. It is useful for code splitting, field extraction, and batch text cleanup in spreadsheet workflows.
Core tasks include:
- Insert the MID function through the Insert Function dialog when you want to review parameter guidance before confirming the formula.
- Type
=MID(...)directly in a cell or in the formula bar for faster day-to-day editing. - Review MID syntax and parameter descriptions from the function help entry when you need to confirm argument order and usage.
Common use cases include splitting order numbers, extracting parts of names or IDs, and cleaning structured text fields in bulk. This can reduce manual copying and character-by-character editing in spreadsheet work.
System Requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | A Windows device that can run WPS Office normally |
| App version | It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office |
| Network | No mandatory internet connection is required for local formula entry; internet access is needed for downloads or online help |
| Other | WPS Spreadsheets must be installed, and you need permission to open or edit spreadsheet files |
Download & Installation
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official download | WPS Office Free Download |
| Installation method | Download the Windows installer and complete setup by following the on-screen prompts |
| Post-install check | Open WPS Spreadsheets and any worksheet, then confirm that formula-related entries are available on the Formula tab |
Source: WPS download page
Compare with Alternatives
| Dimension | WPS | Microsoft | Notion | Adobe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capability Summary | Provides the MID text function in WPS Spreadsheets, with support for inserting it from the function dialog or typing the formula directly in a cell. | Excel provides the MID function and returns a specific number of characters from a text string starting at the position you specify. | Google Sheets provides the MID function and returns a segment of a string. | Notion formulas provide substring() to return text from a start index to an end index. | Acrobat focuses on extracting or converting text from PDF files, including exporting PDF content to TXT. |
| WPS Advantages | Advantage: MID is available directly in the spreadsheet editing workflow, so users can insert it from the function dialog or type it directly in cells for routine text extraction tasks. | Compared with WPS: Excel offers the same core MID syntax and function behavior, with documentation centered on the Excel formula system. | Compared with WPS: Google Sheets offers similar MID syntax, with a stronger focus on browser-based collaboration. | Compared with WPS: Notion uses database-style formulas such as substring() rather than a spreadsheet MID workflow. | Compared with WPS: Adobe is oriented toward PDF text extraction and conversion rather than spreadsheet formula editing. |
| Official Source | — | MID function | MID | Formula syntax and functions | How to convert PDFs to TXT files |
Overall Conclusion: If your main task is extracting characters by position inside a spreadsheet, WPS MID fits the same general workflow used in common spreadsheet tools and is easy to apply in everyday tables. Notion and Adobe address different scenarios, such as database formulas or PDF text conversion, so they are better suited to different kinds of work.
Use Cases
| No. | Scenario | Suitable users | Main challenge | How MID helps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Splitting order numbers | Admin, sales, and operations staff | Codes often contain fixed-position segments that are slow to split manually | Use MID to extract the middle section by position |
| 2 | Extracting parts of IDs or student numbers | HR, education, and data entry teams | A fixed character range must be extracted in batches | Enter a MID formula in the target column and fill down |
| 3 | Cleaning text fields | Finance and data analysis users | Raw fields may contain mixed content and only part of the text is needed | Combine MID with other text functions to process the data |
| 4 | Building reusable spreadsheet templates | Office staff | The same extraction logic must be reused across many rows | Create the MID formula once and copy it through the column |
| 5 | Learning function arguments | New users | The order and meaning of arguments may be unclear | Use the Insert Function dialog and help entry to review the syntax |
Membership & Benefits
Free vs WPS Premium
| Capability | Free users | WPS Premium |
|---|---|---|
| MID formula entry and calculation | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Basic PDF features | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Cloud storage | 1 GB | 20 GB |
| Template downloads | Limited | More content available |
| AI tools | Limited | More AI features with daily usage limits |
Source: WPS Office pricing page
Recommendations
| Scenario | Recommended plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday spreadsheet formula work | Free | The MID function itself is available for regular text extraction tasks |
| Need more cloud storage, templates, or added tools | WPS Premium | Suitable for users who also need broader document services and added features |
How to Subscribe
- WPS membership center: Subscribe now
- To compare available plans, open the pricing page and review the feature breakdown for each option.
Source: WPS Office pricing page