The REPLACEB function in Google Sheets is a powerful tool for managing text within your spreadsheets. It enables you to replace a specified segment of a text string with new text, using a byte count to pinpoint the exact location for substitution. This function is particularly useful when dealing with binary data or when exact byte precision is needed for text manipulations.

Syntax

REPLACEB(original_text, start_position, num_bytes, new_text)

original_text: The text string that contains the part you want to replace.
start_position: The position (in bytes) of the first character to replace.
num_bytes: The number of bytes in the original_text to replace.
new_text: The new text string that will replace the specified bytes.

Example #1

REPLACEB("Hello World", 8, 5, "Universe")

This function replaces the text “World” with “Universe” starting from the 8th byte position, resulting in “Hello Universe”.

Example #2

REPLACEB("Data Analysis", 1, 4, "Info")

Here, the function replaces the first four bytes “Data” with “Info”, resulting in “Info Analysis”.

Example #3

REPLACEB("12345ABCDE", 6, 5, "XYZ")

This example replaces “ABCDE” starting from the 6th byte, resulting in “12345XYZ”.

Error handling

• VALUE! The function may return this error if the start_position is less than 1 or if num_bytes exceeds the length of the original text.
• ERROR! This error can occur if the original_text is not a text string.
• REF! This error appears if a reference to a cell not existing or is inaccessible is used.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the REPLACEB function is an essential tool for precise text manipulation in Google Sheets, especially when working with byte-based string data. By understanding its syntax and potential errors, users can effectively leverage this function to enhance their data management capabilities.