The MIDB function in Google Sheets is a powerful tool designed to extract a specific segment from a string based on defined criteria. When working with strings that bear essential data for analysis or reporting, the ability to isolate subsets of that data can be invaluable for effective data manipulation and presentation.

Syntax

MIDB(text, start_num, num_bytes)

• text: This parameter is the original string from which you want to extract characters.
• start_num: Represents the position of the first character you wish to extract from the string (count starts at 1).
• num_bytes: Indicates the total number of bytes to extract starting from the specified position.

Example #1

MIDB("GoogleSheets", 1, 5)

This function call extracts the first five bytes from the string “GoogleSheets”, resulting in “Googl”.

Example #2

MIDB("DataAnalysis", 6, 4)

In this case, the function extracts four bytes starting from the sixth character “A”, yielding the result “Anal”.

Example #3

MIDB("OpenAI ChatGPT", 1, 10)

This extracts the first ten bytes of the string “OpenAI ChatGPT”, giving you “OpenAI Cha”.

Error handling

• Error: VALUE! This error occurs when either the start_num or num_bytes parameters are non-numeric or start_num exceeds the length of the text.
• Error: REF! This results when the function refers to a non-existent cell, often appearing when using an invalid range.

Conclusion

The MIDB function in Google Sheets is an essential utility for anyone seeking to manipulate string data effectively. By allowing users to extract specific portions of a string based on character count, it not only enhances data analysis but also improves the structuring of information for better visual representation. This function, along with its accompanying error handling, ensures that users can efficiently incorporate string processing into their spreadsheets.