# How to use Text Formula - Left function

**URL:** <https://forums.knack.com/t/how-to-use-text-formula-left-function/13524>\
**Category:** Get Answers\
**Created:** [December 15, 2022, 9:27pm UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/how-to-use-text-formula-left-function/13524 "2022-12-15T21:27:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Joshua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/48db29/32.png) [@Joshua](https://forums.knack.com/u/Joshua)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2022, 9:27pm UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/how-to-use-text-formula-left-function/13524/1 "2022-12-15T21:27:25Z")

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I have a field called Category. I need to pull just the first letter from that field. I can’t figure out the syntax for the Left function. Can anyone help? I feel like it’s simple and I’m just missing something.  
Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Dean2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dean2](https://forums.knack.com/u/Dean2)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2022, 11:36pm UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/how-to-use-text-formula-left-function/13524/2 "2022-12-15T23:36:46Z")

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Try a Text Formula “left({Name},1)” with Name being the field name in my instance.

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**Author:** ![CarlHolmes](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forums.knack.com/carlholmes/32/2814_2.png) [@CarlHolmes](https://forums.knack.com/u/CarlHolmes)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 7:01am UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/how-to-use-text-formula-left-function/13524/3 "2022-12-16T07:01:36Z")

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> **[Text Formula Functions](https://learn.knack.com/article/z2uiemxq8t-text-formula-functions#text-functions)**
>
> This information is referenced in the Text Formulas article. The functions listed on this page are only available for Text Formulas. If you're looking for the functions available for Equations, click…

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**Author:** ![Joshua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/48db29/32.png) [@Joshua](https://forums.knack.com/u/Joshua)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 1:13pm UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/how-to-use-text-formula-left-function/13524/4 "2022-12-19T13:13:39Z")

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Thank you! I think my brain was fried and I was making it too complicated. What you suggested worked.

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**Author:** ![Joshua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/48db29/32.png) [@Joshua](https://forums.knack.com/u/Joshua)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 1:14pm UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/how-to-use-text-formula-left-function/13524/5 "2022-12-19T13:14:28Z")

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Thank you Carl! I knew I had seen something that explained all the formulas but I couldn’t remember where it was. I have this site bookmarked now.