The ASC function in Google Sheets is a powerful tool for text manipulation. It specifically converts full-width ASCII and katakana characters to their half-width counterparts, making it especially useful for formatting text in languages that utilize different character widths. This function is vital for ensuring consistency in data presentation, enabling clearer analysis and reporting.

Syntax

ASC(text)

• text: This is the string or cell reference that contains the characters you want to convert.

Example #1

ASC("ＡＢＣチューリップ")

This function converts the full-width characters “ＡＢＣ” and the katakana “チューリップ” into half-width. Result: “ABCチューリップ”.

Example #2

ASC("ｱｲｳｴｵ")

This function changes the full-width katakana characters “ｱｲｳｴｵ” to their half-width equivalents. Result: “アイウエオ”.

Example #3

ASC("Hello World!")

This function is called on a standard-width string, which remains unaffected. Result: “Hello World!”.

Error handling

• VALUE!: This error occurs if the input is not a valid text string or cell reference. Ensure that you are passing a proper string to the function.

Conclusion

In summary, the ASC function is an essential tool for users needing to convert full-width ASCII and katakana characters to half-width in Google Sheets. By understanding its syntax and usage, you can enhance your text manipulation capabilities, resulting in improved data clarity and presentation.