LEFTB in WPS on Windows FAQ

Q: What should I do if LEFTB shows an error after I enter it?

Check whether the formula starts with = . Check whether the parentheses are paired correctly and the arguments use the correct separator. Confirm that the byte-count argument is a valid number, then press Enter again.

Q: How can I view the parameter instructions for LEFTB?

Select the target cell and type =LEFTB( . Look at the syntax prompt shown in the formula editing area. Enter the text argument and byte-count argument in order.

When using LEFTB, the most common questions involve formula errors, unexpected results, and function selection; this FAQ covers 3 common question types and a short glossary.

FAQ

What should I do if LEFTB shows an error after I enter it?

Check whether the formula starts with =.
Check whether the parentheses are paired correctly and the arguments use the correct separator.
Confirm that the byte-count argument is a valid number, then press Enter again.

How can I view the parameter instructions for LEFTB?

Select the target cell and type =LEFTB(.
Look at the syntax prompt shown in the formula editing area.
Enter the text argument and byte-count argument in order.

Why is the LEFTB result different from LEFT?

First check whether the text contains multi-byte characters.
If you need to extract content from the left by byte count, use LEFTB.
If you only need to extract by character count, use LEFT instead.

Glossary

Term	Definition
LEFTB	A function that returns a specified length of content from the left side of a text string by byte count.
Argument	The input used in a function, such as text, byte count, or a cell reference.
Formula bar	The editing area used to enter, review, and modify cell formulas.