This how-to guide includes 3 topics: entering the SEARCHB function, using the start-position argument, and combining SEARCHB with other formulas; choose a topic from the index and follow the steps.

How-to Index

No.	Topic	Membership Requirement
1	1. Enter the SEARCHB function	Free
2	2. Use the start-position argument to continue searching	Free
3	3. Combine SEARCHB with other formulas	Free

How-to Guide

1. Enter the SEARCHB function

Entry point: Formulas tab → formula bar

Open WPS Spreadsheet and select the cell where you want to display the result.
Type = to begin editing a formula.
Type SEARCHB( and review the syntax hint that appears.
Enter the text to find, the text to search within, and any other required arguments.
Type the closing parenthesis and press Enter to view the result in the cell.

Success Criteria

On-screen result: the cell displays a position value or the expected result.
Next action available: you can copy the formula, adjust arguments, or fill it down.

Tips While Using

Common mistake: if you do not start with =, the entry is treated as plain text.
Environment note: incorrect argument formats can return an error value.

2. Use the start-position argument to continue searching

Entry point: Formulas tab → formula bar

Select the target cell and type =SEARCHB(.
Enter the text to find and the text to search within.
In the third argument position, enter the starting byte position.
Press Enter and review the result returned from the specified starting point.

Success Criteria

On-screen result: the returned position differs from the first search result and reflects the new starting point.
Next action available: you can adjust the third argument and compare results from different starting points.

Tips While Using

Common mistake: an unsuitable starting position may prevent the expected result.
Environment note: when working with double-byte text, review the result against the actual text structure.

3. Combine SEARCHB with other formulas

Entry point: Formulas tab → formula bar

Use SEARCHB first to get the starting position of the target text.
In the same formula or in a helper column, combine the result with other text functions.
Complete extraction, replacement, or structure splitting as needed.
Press Enter to review the final result and adjust arguments based on your data.

Success Criteria

On-screen result: the cell displays processed text or the expected calculation result.
Next action available: you can copy the formula to other cells in the same column for batch processing.

Tips While Using

Common mistake: nested formulas can make parentheses easy to miss.
Environment note: verify the SEARCHB result first before combining it with additional formulas.