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Excel MIDB Function

The MIDB function returns a specific number of characters from a text string, starting at the position you specify, based on the number of bytes you specify. MIDB is intended for use with languages that use the double-byte character set (DBCS), such as Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Korean, and Japanese. The function counts each double-byte character as 2.

midb function 1


Syntax

=MIDB(text, start_num, [num_bytes])


Arguments

  • text (required): The text string that you want to extract characters from.
  • start_num (required): The position of the first byte of character you want to extract in text.
  • num_bytes (required): Specifies the number of bytes of characters to extract from text.

Return Value

The MIDB function returns specified number of characters.


Function Notes

  • Spaces count as characters.
  • MIDB always counts each double-byte character as 2 when you have enabled the editing of a language that supports DBCS and then set it as the default language. Otherwise, MIDB counts each character as 1 just like MID.
  • If start_num is greater than the length of text, MIDB returns an empty text ("").
  • If start_num is less than the length of text but start_num + num_bytes exceeds the length of text, MIDB replaces the characters from the No. start_num to the end of text.
  • MIDB returns the #VALUE! error if:
    • start_num < 1;
    • num_bytes is negative.
  • MIDB counts actual values instead of the look of your data. For example, A1 is date 9/1/2022, MIDB(A1,2,3) returns 480, as the actual value in A1 is 44805 which was just formatted as a date value.

Example

To have MIDB return the specified bytes of characters from the text strings at the positions specified in the table below, please copy or enter the formula below in the top cell (F6) of the result list, and press Enter to get the result. Then select the result cell, and drag the fill handle (the small square in the lower-right corner of the selected cell) down to apply the formula to the below cells.

=MIDB(B6,C6,D6)

midb function 2

Instead of cell references, you can type the actual text, start_num and num_bytes values in the formula as shown below.

=MIDB("你在干什么",3,4)

Note: You should enclose the text string in an Excel formula with double quotes (""). Note that cell references, numbers or dates should not be within quotes.


MIDB VS. MID

MIDB counts each double-byte character as 2 and each single-byte character as 1. While MID counts both double- and single-byte character as 1. You can compare the results returned by MIDB and MID as shown below.

midb function 3


Related functions

Excel MID Function

In Excel workbook, when you want to extract part of text from a cell value based on the location and length, the MID function can help you to solve this task. MID function is used to find and return a specific number of characters from the middle of given text string.

Excel RIGHTB Function

The RIGHTB function returns the specified number of characters from the end (right) of a supplied string based on the number of bytes you specify. RIGHTB is intended for use with languages that use the double-byte character set (DBCS), such as Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Korean, and Japanese. The function counts each double-byte character as 2.

Excel LEFTB Function

The LEFTB function returns the specified number of characters from the beginning (left) of a supplied string based on the number of bytes you specify. LEFTB is intended for use with languages that use the double-byte character set (DBCS), such as Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Korean, and Japanese. The function counts each double-byte character as 2.

Excel REPLACEB Function

The REPLACEB function replaces part of a text string with a new text string based on the number of bytes you specify. REPLACEB is intended for use with languages that use the double-byte character set (DBCS), such as Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Korean, and Japanese. The function counts each double-byte character as 2.

Excel LENB Function

The LENB function returns the length of a string in bytes. LENB is intended for use with languages that use the double-byte character set (DBCS), such as Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Korean, and Japanese. The function counts each double-byte character as 2.


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