Question: I have an Excel sheet with data only in the first column, where each cell *starts* with the character H, G, I, B, H, E, S, C, or none of the above.

I would like to write a command so that in the second column, one of four things will happen:

1. If the cell in the first column starts with H, G, or I, then the cell in the second column is assigned H
2. If the cell in the first column starts with B or E, then the cell in the second column is assigned E
3. If the cell in the first column starts with T, S, or C, then the cell in the second column is assigned C
4. If the cell in the first column starts with none of the above, then the cell in the second column remains blank

I found that this command does part of the problem:

`=IF(OR(B25="H"; B25="G"; B25="I");"H";"") & IF(OR(B25="B"; B25="E");"E";"") & IF(OR(B25="T"; B25="S"; B25="C");"C";"")`

However, this only works if the first column only contains one character. I would like to tailor this command so that it does not require there to only be one character in the first column, but that it simply *starts with* the character.

I hope this makes sense. Please let me know if you have any advice!! :O)

Answer: 
Maybe the "LEFT()"-Function is what you are looking for. 

Something like "LEFT(A1,1)" should give you the first Character of the String in Cell A1.

More information:
<http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/left-leftb-functions-HP005209153.aspx>

EDIT: Wow, this community is always impressing me. (Too fast for me ;))
try this:

`=IF(OR(LEFT(AB25,1)="H"; LEFT(AB25,1)="G"; LEFT(AB25,1)="I");"H";"") & IF(OR(LEFT(AB25,1)="B"; LEFT(AB25,1)="E");"E";"") & IF(OR(LEFT(AB25,1)="T"; LEFT(AB25,1)="S"; LEFT(AB25,1)="C");"C";"")`