How to remove leading zeros from alphanumeric text string in Excel?
Supposing, I have a list of text strings which including some leading zeros, and now, I want to remove all the leading zeros from the text strings to get the following result, how could I solve this task in Excel quickly and easily?
Remove leading zeros from alphanumeric text strings with array formula
Remove leading zeros from alphanumeric text strings with Kutools for Excel
Remove leading zeros from alphanumeric text strings with User Defined Function
Comparison of Methods for Removing Leading Zeros from Alphanumeric Text Strings in Excel
When text strings such as 000ABC123 or 00125XYZ contain unnecessary leading zeros, Excel formulas, a VBA User Defined Function, and Kutools for Excel can all remove the zeros while keeping the remaining alphanumeric text. The main differences are the setup, output location, and whether formulas or code are required.
| Comparison | Array Formula | VBA User Defined Function | Kutools Remove Leading Zeros |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | Enter an array formula in another cell, confirm it, and fill the formula down | Create a User Defined Function in VBA, return to the worksheet, enter the function, and fill it down | Select the cells and choose Kutools > Text > Remove Leading Zeros |
| Formula / code required | ✔ Requires an array formula | ✔ Requires VBA code and a custom worksheet function | ✘ No formula or VBA required |
| Output | Returns the cleaned strings in a separate output range | Returns the cleaned strings in cells containing the custom function | Removes leading zeros directly from all selected cells at once |
| Best for | Removing leading zeros with native worksheet formulas when keeping the original data unchanged is preferred | Creating a reusable custom function when VBA is acceptable | Batch removing leading zeros directly from multiple alphanumeric text strings without formulas, helper columns, or VBA |
Remove leading zeros from alphanumeric text strings with array formula
In Excel, there is no direct way for you to remove the leading zeros from strings, but, you can apply the following array formula to solve it.
1. Please type this array formula: =MID(A2,MATCH(TRUE,(MID(A2,ROW(INDIRECT("1:"&LEN(A2))),1)<>"0"),0),LEN(A2)) (A2 is the cell that you want to remove the leading zeros from) into a blank cell where you want to get the result, C2, for example, and then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys together to get the correct result, see screenshot:
2. And then select the cell C2 and drag the fill handle down to the cells that you want to contain this formula, all the leading zeros have been removed from the text strings, see screenshot:
Remove leading zeros from alphanumeric text strings with Kutools for Excel
If you have Kutools for Excel, with its Remove Leading Zeros feature, you can remove all leading zeros from multiple cells with a click.
After installing Kutools for Excel, please do as follows:
1. Select the cells that you want to remove all leading zeros, and then click Kutools > Text > Remove Leading Zeros, see screenshot:
2. And then all the leading zeros in the text strings have been deleted at once, see screenshot:
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Remove leading zeros from alphanumeric text strings with User Defined Function
Except the above array formula, the following VBA code also can do you a favor, please do as follows:
1. Hold down the ALT + F11 keys to open the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.
2. Click Insert > Module, and paste the following code in the Module Window.
VBA code: Remove leading zeros from alphanumeric text strings:
Function RemoveLeadingZeros(Str As String)
'updateby Extendoffice
Do While Left(Str, 1) = "0"
Str = Mid(Str, 2)
Loop
RemoveLeadingZeros = Str
End Function
3. And then save and close this code, go back to the worksheet, and enter this formula: =removeleadingzeros(A2)(A2 is the cell that you want to remove the leading zeros from) into a blank cell, then drag the fill handle down to the cells which you want to apply this formula, and all the leading zeros have been deleted from the text strings, see screenshot:
Add leading zeros to text strings with Kutools for Excel
Sometimes, you may want to insert a number of leading zeros before your text strings at once, in this case, the Kutools for Excel’s Add Text utility can help you to finish this job as quickly as you can.
After installing Kutools for Excel, please do as follows:
1. Select the text string cells which you want to add leading zeros.
2. Then click Kutools > Text > Add Text, see screenshot:
3. In the Add Text dialog box, enter zeros that you want to add before the text strings into the Text box, and then select Before first character from the Position, see screenshot:
4. Then click Ok or Apply button, your specified number of zeros have been inserted before all the selected text strings, see screenshot:
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Conclusion
The Array Formula provides a formula-based solution for removing leading zeros while preserving the remaining alphanumeric text. However, the formula is relatively complex, needs to be entered in a separate output cell, and then filled down for additional records.
The VBA User Defined Function simplifies the worksheet formula to a custom function after the VBA code has been added. It can be useful for repeated use, but it requires creating and maintaining VBA code and still returns the cleaned strings through formulas in separate cells.
Kutools for Excel's Remove Leading Zeros provides the most direct workflow for batch processing existing text strings. Select the target cells and run Remove Leading Zeros to remove all leading zeros from the selected strings at once, without creating formulas, helper columns, or VBA code.
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