How to Use the LEFT Function in WPS on Windows

Use the LEFT function with 4 topics in total, including 4 free topics and 0 membership-related topics, and jump to each section from the How-to Index.

How-to Index

How-to Guide

1. Enter the LEFT function

Entry point: Formulas tab → formula bar

1. Open AirSheet and select the cell where you want to show the result.
2. Type = to start formula entry.
3. Type LEFT(.
4. Check whether function syntax guidance appears.

Success Criteria

• UI state: =LEFT( appears in the formula bar or the selected cell.
• Next actions: You can continue entering the text argument and character count.

Tips While Using

• Common mistakes: If you do not type = first, the content may be treated as plain text.
• Environment limits: The cell must be in an editable state.

2. Fill in parameters with the prompt

Entry point: Formula editing state after LEFT( is entered

1. Enter the target text or a cell reference in the first argument position.
2. Enter the argument separator.
3. Enter the number of characters to return in the second argument position.
4. Type the closing parenthesis and press Enter.

Success Criteria

• UI state: The cell returns the extracted text from the left side.
• Next actions: You can copy the formula or adjust the parameters.

Tips While Using

• Common mistakes: Missing parentheses, incomplete arguments, or an incorrect separator can cause a formula error.
• Environment limits: The character count should match the extraction result you need.

3. Use cross-sheet references or nested formulas

Entry point: Formula bar

1. In the text argument of LEFT, enter a cell reference from another sheet or insert the result of another function.
2. Complete the remaining arguments as needed.
3. Check whether the formula structure is complete.
4. Press Enter to confirm the calculation.

Success Criteria

• UI state: The result cell returns the expected text extraction result.
• Next actions: You can continue combining it with other formulas for more analysis.

Tips While Using

• Common mistakes: An incorrect sheet name can cause the reference to fail.
• Environment limits: When you build nested formulas, pay attention to parentheses and argument order.

4. Check automatic recalculation

Entry point: A worksheet that already contains a LEFT formula

1. Change the source text that the formula references.
2. Watch the result cell for changes.
3. If needed, press Enter or trigger worksheet recalculation.
4. Confirm that the result matches the latest data.

Success Criteria

• UI state: The result updates when the source data changes.
• Next actions: You can fill the formula into more cells for batch use.

Tips While Using

• Common mistakes: If the formula references the wrong cell, the wrong content will update with it.
• Environment limits: In a complex worksheet, check the reference path before judging the result.