Use this function to return the starting position of a string within text.
Syntax
FIND(search_for, text_to_search, [start_position])
- search_for—The character or sequence of characters (string), or a cell reference you want to find within text_to_search
- text_to_search—The text where you want to search for the character or string
- start_position—[optional]The number representing where the character or string is located in text_to_search from which the function will begin searching. If you don't provide a number, the function searches from the leftmost character.
Sample usage
FIND("D", [Task Name]4, 5)
Examples
This example references the following sheet information:
| Clothing Item | Item Number | Transaction Total | Units Sold | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | T-Shirt | C001 | 1,170.00 | 78 |
| 2 | Pants | C002 | 1,491.00 | 52 |
| 3 | Jacket | C003 | 812.00 | 217 |
Given the table above, here are some examples of using FIND in a sheet:
| Formula | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|
| =FIND("a", [Clothing Item]3) | Returns the starting position of the character a in row 3 of the Clothing Item column | 2 |
| =COUNTIF([Item Number]:[Item Number], FIND("C", @cell) > 0) | Counts values in the Item Number column containing a C character. Rows 1, 2, and 3 apply. | 3 |
| =SUMIFS([Transaction Total]:[Transaction Total], [Item Number]:[Item Number], FIND([Item Number]1, @cell) > 0) | If values in the Item Number column are equal to the value on row 1 of the Item Number column (C001), the function adds the total of the corresponding values in the Transactional Total column. | 1,170.00 |
Looking for a certain value on a sheet? Use INDEX, COLLECT, MATCH, or a combination of those to find and return specific values. Learn more about formula combinations.
Still need help?
If you have an Enterprise plan, you can use AI to help write and troubleshoot formulas.
Use the Formula Handbook template to find more support resources, and view 100+ formulas, including a glossary of every function that you can practice working with in real time, and examples of commonly used and advanced formulas.
Find examples of how other Smartsheet customers use this function or ask about your specific use case in the Smartsheet online Community.