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REPLACEB function

Replaces characters within text

Legacy DBCS byte-oriented replace function. Microsoft deprecates REPLACEB; prefer REPLACE for new workbooks. This local model counts Latin-1 and half-width kana as one byte and other code points as two; an incomplete double-byte character in a slice becomes a space. It is not a UTF-8 storage measure. Native Excel byte behavior depends on language and workbook settings, and full native locale compatibility remains unverified.

Syntax

REPLACEB(old_text, start_num, num_bytes, new_text)

Square brackets indicate optional arguments.

Arguments

ArgumentRequiredMeaning
old_textYesText in which you want to replace some characters."Univer"
start_numYesThe position of the character in old_text that you want to replace with new_text.1
num_bytesYesThe number of bytes in old_text that you want REPLACEB to replace with new_text.0
new_textYesThe text that will replace characters in old_text."Hello "

Try REPLACEB

Replace a byte span without shifting the wrong character

=REPLACEB(A2,4,3,"X")

Replace bytes 4–6 (B字) with X and retain C at the end. This example uses a legacy double-byte character set (DBCS): A, B and C use one byte each; 漢 and 字 use two each. Byte positions are A=1, 漢=2–3, B=4, 字=5–6 and C=7. These positions differ from UTF-8 storage sizes. Microsoft deprecates the B-suffixed function; prefer the corresponding character function for new workbooks. Native byte counting depends on language settings.

Inspect the current formula

Read its written arguments or observe actual operation values in a separate local calculation. This action neither applies a draft nor grades an answer.

Read the formula, one argument at a time

Explore the written function calls and their inputs. The calculation result belongs to the complete formula.

REPLACEB · top-level call

=REPLACEB(A2,4,3,"X")

1 / 4 · old_text

Text in which you want to replace some characters.

REPLACEB reference ↗

Follow the cells behind a result

Read explicit local references and helper formulas using a separate calculation. Your draft stays in this field; the worksheet and practice checks do not change.

The worksheet runs locally. Published checks apply to the supplied example only. Native Excel and Google Sheets compatibility remain unverified.

Reference and compatibility

Univer 1.0.4 / Apache-2.0. Calculation checks cover the supplied examples only. The browser worksheet does not implement every Excel feature, external service or connected data type.