FINDB Function in Excel
The FINDB function in Excel is used to find the position of a specific character or substring within a text string. It’s particularly useful for languages using double-byte character sets (DBCS) like Japanese, Chinese, and Korean.
Syntax
FINDB(find_text, within_text, [start_num])- find_text: The text you want to find.
- within_text: The text in which you want to search for the find_text.
- start_num: (Optional) The position to start the search. Defaults to 1 if omitted.
Key Features
- Counts each double-byte character as 2 when DBCS is enabled.
- Case-sensitive, unlike the SEARCH function.
- Returns the position of the first character of find_text within within_text.
- Returns a #VALUE! error if find_text is not found.
Example
=FINDB("好", "你好世界")This formula returns 2 because “好” is at the second position in “你好世界”.
Common Use Cases
- Locating substrings in text parsing and data extraction.
- Data validation by checking for specific characters or substrings.
- String manipulation when combined with functions like MIDB, LEFTB, and RIGHTB.
- Text analysis in languages using double-byte characters.
Potential Issues
- Case sensitivity may lead to unexpected results if not considered.
- Requires DBCS language support for accurate results with double-byte characters.
- The way it counts characters (double-byte as 2, single-byte as 1) can be confusing.
Supported Excel Versions
FINDB is available in Excel 2016, 2019, 2021, Microsoft 365, Excel for the web, and Excel for Mac.
Conclusion
The FINDB function is a powerful tool for text manipulation, especially when working with DBCS languages. By understanding its nuances and applications, users can enhance their data analysis and string manipulation capabilities in Excel.
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