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Hi,<br />
<br />
pls try<br />

<pre><code id="code-20-41947061-1">=IF(ISNUMBER(--LEFT(C2,1)),LEFT(C2,12),&quot;&quot;)</code></pre>
Regards
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Hi,

pls try


=IF(ISNUMBER(--LEFT(C2,1)),LEFT(C2,12),"")

Regards

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Wow, I am impressed, both codes work just fine. I suggest splitting the points if you do not mind. <br />
<br />
Thank you very much for your professional help. <br />
<br />
Regards, Andreas
</div>


Wow, I am impressed, both codes work just fine. I suggest splitting the points if you do not mind.

Thank you very much for your professional help.

Regards, Andreas

<div>
I did offer an equivalent solution to MacroShadow's before his<br />
<a href="https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28992979/Extract-first-12-digits-from-a-string-where-applicable.html?notificationFollowed=181806007&anchorAnswerId=41947061#a41947061" rel="ugc">https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28992979/Extract-first-12-digits-from-a-string-where-applicable.html?notificationFollowed=181806007&anchorAnswerId=41947061#a41947061</a>
</div>


I did offer an equivalent solution to MacroShadow's before his
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28992979/Extract-first-12-digits-from-a-string-where-applicable.html?notificationFollowed=181806007&anchorAnswerId=41947061#a41947061 [https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28992979/Extract-first-12-digits-from-a-string-where-applicable.html?notificationFollowed=181806007&anchorAnswerId=41947061#a41947061]

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<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
Dear Experts I got the following data table and would like to insert a formula in Column B <br />
<br />
<a href="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2017/01_w01/1136626/Extract_numbers.png" target="_blank" title="extract_digits (32 KB)"><img alt="extract_digits" class="file-block lazyload" style="max-width: 751px;" data-src="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2017/01_w01/1136626/Extract_numbers.png" /></a><br />
The formula in B2:B14 checks whether the string begins with a number, if so, then extracts the first 12 digits, else do nothing<br />
<br />
Help is much appreciated. Thank you very much in advance.<br />
<br />
Regards, Andreas
</div>
</div>


Extract_numbers.png

Dear Experts I got the following data table and would like to insert a formula in Column B 



The formula in B2:B14 checks whether the string begins with a number, if so, then extracts the first 12 digits, else do nothing

Help is much appreciated. Thank you very much in advance.

Regards, Andreas

Extract first 12 digits from a string where applicable

Microsoft Excel topics include formulas, formatting, VBA macros and user-defined functions, and everything else related to the spreadsheet user interface, including error messages.