LEFTB in WPS on Windows: Introduction

WPS LEFTB on Windows is a spreadsheet text function for extracting content from the left side of a text string by byte count; this guide covers 4 core tasks, with 4 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.

At a Glance

Metric	Value	Notes
Core tasks	4	Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index
Available without membership	4	Matches the number of Free rows in the index
Membership-related items	0	Matches the number of membership-related rows in the index

About This Feature

Overview

LEFTB is a text function in WPS Spreadsheet that returns content from the left side of a text string based on a specified number of bytes. It is useful for mixed-language text, byte-length handling, and fixed-byte extraction.

Core capabilities include:

Extracting text from the left side by byte count for multi-byte text handling.
Entering the function directly in the formula bar with parameter input.
Using cell references for batch calculation with automatic recalculation.
Combining LEFTB with other text functions for more flexible text cleanup and splitting.

Common use cases include code extraction, field preprocessing, and imported data cleanup. It helps reduce repetitive manual string splitting and supports faster fixed-length text extraction in spreadsheet workflows.

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 calculation; internet access is needed for download, installation, and account services
Other	You need permission to open WPS Spreadsheet files and edit cells and formulas

Download & Installation

Before using LEFTB, install the WPS Office desktop app for Windows and open WPS Spreadsheet.

Item	Details
Official download	WPS Office Free Download
Post-install check	Open WPS Office → open WPS Spreadsheet → select any cell and enter `=LEFTB(` in the formula bar

Source: WPS download page

Compare with Alternatives

Dimension	WPS	Microsoft	Google	Notion	Adobe
Capability Summary	WPS Spreadsheet provides the LEFTB function for returning text from the left side of a string by byte count, with support for cell references, nested formulas, and recalculation.	Excel documentation describes the LEFT function for returning characters from the left side of text and notes that LEFTB is deprecated.	Google Sheets provides the LEFTB function for returning the left portion of a string by byte count.	Notion formulas support text extraction through functions such as `substring()`, but not as a spreadsheet LEFTB function.	Adobe Help content does not present a spreadsheet function equivalent to LEFTB in Acrobat help materials.
WPS Advantages	Advantage: WPS provides LEFTB directly in a spreadsheet workflow, which is practical for byte-based extraction and fill-down processing across cells.	Compared with WPS: Microsoft documentation points users to LEFT, and LEFTB is deprecated.	Compared with WPS: Google Sheets also supports LEFTB, but the usage context is primarily an online spreadsheet environment.	Compared with WPS: Notion can extract text, but it uses formula syntax in databases rather than a spreadsheet function entry point.	Compared with WPS: Adobe official help does not describe a comparable spreadsheet text function in this product context.
Official Source	—	LEFT function	LEFTB function	Formula syntax and functions	Adobe Help Center

Overall Conclusion
For byte-based text extraction in spreadsheets, both WPS and Google Sheets provide a direct LEFTB function. If you work mainly in a Windows desktop spreadsheet environment and want a familiar formula-entry and fill-down workflow, WPS is a practical fit.

Use Cases

No.	Scenario	Suitable for	Main challenge	How LEFTB helps
1	Extracting fixed-byte prefixes	Data processing staff	Mixed text prefixes are hard to split manually	Use LEFTB to return the left-side content by byte count
2	Processing imported fields in batches	Finance and operations teams	Large numbers of records need consistent splitting	Use cell references and fill the formula down
3	Handling mixed Chinese and English text	General office users	Character count and byte count are not always the same	Use LEFTB instead of character-based extraction
4	Building combined text-cleaning formulas	Advanced spreadsheet users	One function alone may not be enough	Nest LEFTB with other text functions
5	Keeping results updated with source data	Report maintainers	Manual edits require repeated recalculation	Let formula recalculation keep results in sync

Membership & Benefits

Free vs WPS Premium

Capability	Free users	WPS Premium
Basic LEFTB function usage	✅	✅
Basic spreadsheet editing	✅	✅
Advanced PDF and broader extended tools	Partially limited	✅ More available
Cloud storage	1 GB	20 GB

Source: WPS Office pricing page

Recommendations

Scenario	Recommended plan	Why
Everyday formula entry and basic spreadsheet work	Free	Basic LEFTB usage is enough for common text extraction tasks
More cloud storage and broader office capabilities	WPS Premium	Suitable if you also need more advanced tools and cross-scenario office services

WPS membership center: Subscribe now