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Need a formula to lookup from values on a list with no set delimiters

So here is the formula so far. First, it does not work. Second, I do not know how to fix it.

Here is the problem: I have a column in an excel table that contains a registration number. The registration number always has a prefix that permits you to know which country it is from. The prefix is not a set number of characters; it is not a set character; nor is there a set delimiter. There is a "-" in many, but not all, and the "-" is not always at the end of the prefix. For instance, N1235 is from the US, and C3-345d is from Andorra.

I'm using a helper column to locate and return the prefix and then a third column to look the prefix up in a table and return the country of origin. This formula is in the helper column.

If I group if statements, I think there would be too many. I almost need to do it backwards from normal, like excel read this entire list of prefixes and decide which one it is.

Here are some sample prefixes and their countries:

Regn Prefix Country Name
B-H China, Hong Kong
B-K China, Hong Kong
B-L China, Hong Kong
B-M China, Macau
C2- Naura
C3- Andorra
C6- Bahamas
CX Christmas Islands
F-O Reunion Island
F-OD New Caledonia
F-OG Guadeloupe
F-OG Martinique
F-OH Tahiti
HL Korea, Rep. of
JA Japan
N United States of America
V8- Brunei
VH- Australia
VP-B Bermuda
VQ-B Bermuda
VP-C Cayman Islands
VP-F Falkland Islands
VP-LMA-LUZ Montserrat
VP-LV British Virgin Islands
VQ-H St. Helena
VQ-T Turks and Caicos Islands
XC- Mexico
XT- Burkina Faso
2- Guernsey
3X- Guinea
5H- Tanzania
submitted by /u/lauran2019
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