title: VBA, 'Left' Different Strings Dynamically
body: <p>Having trouble shortening strings in a column but making it dynamic for a directory. Ex: 3 strings in a column, 1 string may continue for 10 rows, another string 20 rows, and another for 15 rows. Each needing to be shorted a different amount</p>
  
  <p>Specifically: I had several words that are either sepearated by a -, _ , +. So example one sheet has pv01_52352, pv+50, pv-100, irvega_242422, so the irvega word works. but for the pv's i am struggling with. The desired results are the works before the special characters, so it would be pv01, pv and irvega as a desired result .</p>
  
  <p>How can I use left or anyway to shorten these all? It is quite hard for me since for one string ill need the first 4 characters, then another 5 characters to be shortened and will need to be done throughout a workbook.</p>
  
  <p>Any input would be appreciated, Thanks.</p>