However, if the length of the numeric part varies, you could use
=VALUE(LEFT(A1,SEARCH(" ",A1)-1))
which will find the first space in the text, and use that to calculate the
number of characters in the number.
HTH
Alan P.
"Peter Strobl" <Peter....@dlr.de> wrote in message
news:111501c14693$feb11700$b1e62ecf@tkmsftngxa04...
a26           26   =extractdigits(A23)
26abc3a   26   =extractdigits(A24)
abc3a         3   =extractdigits(A25)
1a2a3a       1   =extractdigits(A26)
abc           returns a null string
Function ExtractDigits(cell As String) As Variant
    'extract 1st continuous set of digits
    'David McRitchie, 2001-09-26
    Dim i As Long, flag As Long
    flag = 0
    ExtractDigits = ""
    For i = 1 To Len(cell)
       If Mid(cell, i, 1) >= "0" And _
          Mid(cell, i, 1) <= "9" Then
         flag = 1
         ExtractDigits = ExtractDigits & Mid(cell, i, 1)
         ExtractDigits = ExtractDigits * 1
       Else
         If flag = 1 Then Exit Function
       End If
    Next i
End Function
Somewhat related:
Here is a User Defined Function that extracts the number and
allows you to add a number to it, posted by Myrna Larson
http://groups.google.com/groups?as_umsgid=o8qs4tgdosil425t5...@4ax.com
  i.e.    AB12  to AB13
I think someone posted an array formula to extract any number that
appears on the left, but I don't have a reference to it.
HTH,
David McRitchie, Microsoft MVP - Excel
My Excel Macros:  http://www.geocities.com/davemcritchie/excel/excel.htm
Search Page:        http://www.geocities.com/davemcritchie/excel/search.htm
"Peter Strobl" <Peter....@dlr.de> wrote in message news:111501c14693$feb11700$b1e62ecf@tkmsftngxa04...
This *array formula will extract numbers to the right from a text string in
cell A1 .
=MID(A1,1,MATCH(TRUE,ISERROR(1*MID(A1,ROW(INDIRECT("1:25")),1)),0)-1)*1
*Array formula Must be entered by holding down the Ctrl & Shift keys then
hit Enter. Do this after you select or edit the formula. *Excel* will
enclose the formula in { } if it's entered correctly.
All The Best
George Simms
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Newcastle upon Tyne
England
"Peter Strobl" wrote in message ...
this array entered formula (Ctrl+Shift&Enter) extracts the 
number to the left, right, or in the middle of the text
=MID(A1,MATCH(FALSE,ISERROR(1*MID(A1,ROW(INDIRECT
("1:100")),1)),0),100-SUM(1*ISERROR(1*MID(A1,ROW(INDIRECT
("1:100")),1))))*1
Regards,
Peo Sjoblom
>is there a way to extract a number from a text string?
>e.g. "200 Std." should be returned as a number with the 
>value 200
>.
>