Comments on: How to split text string in Excel by comma, space, character or mask

Splitting text from one cell into several cells is the task all Excel users are dealing with once in a while. Today, we are going to take an in-depth look at how you can break strings into different elements using formulas and the Split Text feature. Continue reading

Comments page 5. Total comments: 306

  1. I have strings of numbers e.g S-N123-AB-FG. I wish to strip the number down to S-N123
    Can anyone assist me please?
    Best Regards
    Ed

  2. I've been using these page as a reference for over a year to help cleanup my website downloads. It has been very helpful. Thanks. QUESTION-

    For the life of me, I can't figure out how to save my own formula and cut and paste it into my excel spreadsheets. Whenever I do, Excel rejects the formula; however, If I hand type it each time, it is fine. If I copy these formulas from your website and paste them into excel and manually change them to suite my needs, it's fine. Just trying to figure out how to make this easier on me. I'd like to set up a macro, but the formulas keep getting rejected unless I manually hand type them each time.... very time consuming. Below are how my formulas should read. Any ideas?

    =LEFT(L2, SEARCH(“]”,L2,1)-1)

    =MID(L2, SEARCH(“]”,L2) + 1, SEARCH(“]”,L2,SEARCH(“]”,L2)+1) - SEARCH(“]”,L2) - 1)

    =RIGHT(L2,LEN(L2) - SEARCH(“]”, L2, SEARCH(“]”, L2) + 1))

  3. I have to split 40k cells data
    In this coloumn of 40 thousand cells, multiple rows contains data that is partially duplicate
    Like
    Fruit orange big
    Fruit orange small
    Fruit orange tiny
    Vegetable tomoto
    Vegetable potato
    Dairy product organic milk
    Dairy product organic cheese
    Dairy product organic cream

    The cell should split once the content of the cell changes

  4. Hello I have been tasked with a project at work.

    I am trying to convert the following
    7' 9 3/16"
    7 9/16"
    7"
    8 3/8"
    8' 2 15/16"
    8' 2 7/16"

    some of these work using this formula:
    LEFT(B34,FIND("'",B34)-1)*12+SUBSTITUTE(MID(B34,FIND("'",B34)+1,LEN(B34)),"""","")

    some of them pop up with a VALUE Error, I presume because the format is wrong some are just inches some are just feet and some are feet and inches. I am trying to find the right formula to help solve this issue. I am sure I will need to add some IFERRORS, or something. I could really use all the help I can get.

    Thanks in advanced!

  5. Hi.... i have the data in B2 like this (CUROFF : OTHAKALMANDAPAM POLLACHI MAIN ROAD,CONTACT DETAILS. : MOB : 6379745419,OFFRES : NO 70 ANJENEYAR COLONY ONDIPUDUR COIMBATORE SOUTH,CONTACT DETAILS. : MOB : 9894144376,CURRES : 48 MANOJ NAGAR KALANGAL ROAD KANNAMPALAYAM,CONTACT DETAILS. : MOB : 6379745419,PERMNENT : 48 MANOJ NAGAR KALANGAL ROAD KANNAMPALAYAM,CONTACT DETAILS. : MOB : 6379745419).... i need to split cell based on "CUROFF:" in c2, "OFFRES :" in D2, "CURRES :" in E2, "PERMNENT :" in G2.... can you please help me on this..... thanx in advance

  6. Please guys I need a very urgent help, I have a data set like
    356897609864
    376554333890
    225657755443
    26H676889378
    ............
    ............
    This numbers are randomly generated using RANDBETWEEN formula.
    I want to break it into 6 up and 6 down in the same cell

  7. I Have data in a cell in this shape
    32202-6536360-9
    I need out put in other cells as one character in each cell
    3
    2
    2
    0
    2
    -
    6
    5
    3
    6
    3
    6
    0
    -
    9
    Is there any solution.

  8. Faculty 9-Over-9 Program: Ahn, Charles H; (45212); GR100000 Payroll
    -I am trying to separate the "Ahn, charles H" and input it into a different cell.

    Thank you in advance for your help!!

  9. A0b1C2D3E4F5G6H7I8J9K
    ff5ff5s6s4sfd5
    sfdfd4465ss4ss5
    How to separate Numbers and alphabets

  10. Hello,
    I need to extract and put in different columns just the PO# (PO+digits) of the below array of strings. Sometimes it is separated by a "," or a " ". And the number of digit of a PO can Vary.
    PurchOrd-PO7825,PurchOrd-PO8037,PurchOrd-PO8095 PurchOrd-PO7920,PurchOrd-PO8025 PurchOrd-PO7616,PurchOrd-PO7786,PurchOrd-PO7797.1,PurchOrd-PO7843,PurchOrd-PO7986

    Result expected : PO7825 | PO8037|...| PO7797.1

    You would be such a hero if you could help me on this :)

    Thank you very much in advance (with or without answer!)

  11. DATA 1
    "Interscience Sdn Bhd
    2, Jalan Sg. Kayu Ara 32/38
    Berjaya Industrial Park
    40460SHAH ALAM
    SELANGOR"

    =RIGHT(G2,LEN(G2)-SEARCH(CHAR(10), G2, SEARCH(CHAR(10), G2,SEARCH(CHAR(10), G2,SEARCH(CHAR(10), G2)+1)+1) + 1))

    output: Selangor

  12. Hi,
    I want to split the below text:
    INSP INSPIRIT ENERGY HOLDINGS PLC ORD 0.001P
    To be:
    First column: INSP
    Second Column: INSPIRIT ENERGY HOLDINGS PLC ORD 0.001P

    briefly, i want to split the text after the first space and the rest of the text to be added in the next column.

    Thanks

  13. How do you use the Albeits split function when your data is in separate lines (i.e. char(10) is the "demlimeter"? I have to split addresses and some may or may not have multiple lines of address.
    Examples:
    123 Main St
    Bldg 5
    Apt 19

    123 Main St
    Apt 10

    123 Main St.

    I was using the formulas at first but they only worked if all 3 lines existed.

    Thanks, Laurie

  14. If we have one cell that can say something like "24 hours, 72 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks" (there can be many different possibilities in this cell), is there a way to display results in multiple cells of that same row, but instead of just displaying the words "24 hours", "1 week", etc, we need it to instead display an actual date in those multiple cells, each cell calculating the actual date based on another cell ("Start Date" field which is a date field), so one cell would display the date that is 24 hours after the Start Date, the next cell would display the date that is 72 hours after the Start Date, the next cell would display the date that is 1 week after the Start Date, and so forth and so on. I'm thinking this can either be calculated out before or after doing the text-to-columns thing? Ideally calculated out DURING the text-to-columns thing so it is done in one fell swoop. Does this make sense?

  15. Please need your kind guidance to split this text into proper column.

    A Thomas Hall III Hall Enterprises, Inc. 29075 Palos Verdes Dr E Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275-6405
    A. Carol Brooks, CPL Independent 2504 Glenwood Cir Edmond, OK 73034-6487
    A. Ray Davis, CPL Davis Land & Minerals, Inc. PO Box 79188 Houston, TX 77279-9188
    A. Earl Irby Jr. Independent PO Box 428 Round Rock, TX 78680-0428
    A. Frank Klam, CPL Independent 8309 Cedarbrake Dr Houston, TX 77055-4823
    A. E. Martin CPL Retired PO Box 580 Oklahoma City, OK 73101-0580
    A. Byron Pugh III, CPL Professional Energy Services, Inc. PO Box 820387 Houston, TX 77282-0387
    A. Dale Anderson, CPL/ESA Anderson & Associates Inc. PO Box 701 Mount Vernon, IL 62864-0015
    A. John Davis Holland & Hart LLP 222 S Main St Ste 2200 Salt Lake City, UT 84101-2194
    A. Scott Fairbanks Summit Systems Consulting 241 N 4th St Unit 472 Grand Junction, CO 81502-5819

  16. Hi, I created 4 additional columns to simplify the formula.
    By locating unique idenifiers (spaces and the US MALE or US FEMALE) you then know the relative positions of the other data and can chop it out with ease.
    Unless other text appears the FINDS are looking for a single Space.

    Data is in A3
    In B3: =FIND(" ",A3)

    In C3: =FIND(" ",A3,B1+1)

    In D3: =FIND(" ",A3,C1+1)

    In E3: =IFERROR(FIND("US FEMALE ",A3)-11,FIND("US MALE ",A3)-11)

    in F3 will be first name :=LEFT(A3,B3)

    in G3 will be surname : =TRIM(MID(A3,B3,C3-B3))

    in H3 will be email : =MID(A3,C3,D3-C3)

    in I3 will be Address: =MID(A3,D3,E3-D3)

  17. Hi,
    I have a text file containing name, emails, address and many more its all 42 columns and doesn't have any headers and delimiters. I want the data in order as first name and last name in column and address in one column. I need a solution how to grab one records address data in one column as you see sample data that address is separated with spaces can you get me a solution . Here is the sample of my data.

    4391 Grig Mcdaniil mail@hotmailcom 3619 N. Tiffany Drivi Beavercreek NY 75637 5046851665 US MALE 09/30/1959 178 182 AB+ Grig Mcdaniil Frank Blacker ATHENS IL 61516 US N.A NO YES NO NO N.A FR-DLI09-i3089 09/30/1959 $200.00 Grig Mcdaniil Pamela Toloza BaX_OlaCm-2441 09/30/1959 MALE Other VALIUM37.5 MG 90 $2.85 $171.00$20.00 $191.00

    4392 Harold Davis mail@infinet 488 Wrins Nist Ct bay city FL 54311 5260805557 US MALE 10/17/1952 173 182 AB+ Harold Davis Owen K Ritter DENVERCA N.A US 9002005495 YES NO YES NO NO Yt_i7-Un-10375 10/17/1952 $250.00 Harold Davis Heidi Schultz BaX_OlacM-52110/17/1952 MALE Gas PHENTERMINE 37.5 MG 90 $1.90 $505.00$20.00 $525.00

    1. Apologies. Failed to Reply, but posted the answer as a new question.(77)

  18. Dear folks,
    In many text files, I have a series 80 digits (0-9) in a row and multiple rows. I need to count the occurrences of each digit row-wise and column-wise. This can be done if I can split each digit into one column when I import from the text file. I can do this by painfully marking the delimit by Width for each character for 80 characters when I do the import. Is there any way to save this delimit method and use that method to import a file as I open each text file?
    Thanks in advance to all of you,
    Joe.

    1. Hi Joe,
      From what I can see, there doesn't seem to be a 'save delimiter' function.
      There are definitely options though. For multiple text files a macro may be the easiest option.
      Create an excel enabled macro workbook and put the macro in it. Save it.
      Open the text file with NO formatting so you have x many rows with 80 characters all in column A
      Run the macro.
      Sub Convert80()
      '
      ' CONVERT BLOCK OF 80 CHARACTERS TO 80 COLUMNS
      '

      Columns("A:A").Select
      Selection.TextToColumns Destination:=Range("A1"), DataType:=xlFixedWidth, _
      FieldInfo:=Array(Array(0, 1), Array(1, 1), Array(2, 1), Array(3, 1), Array(4, 1), Array _
      (5, 1), Array(6, 1), Array(7, 1), Array(8, 1), Array(9, 1), Array(10, 1), Array(11, 1), Array _
      (12, 1), Array(13, 1), Array(14, 1), Array(15, 1), Array(16, 1), Array(17, 1), Array(18, 1), _
      Array(19, 1), Array(20, 1), Array(21, 1), Array(22, 1), Array(23, 1), Array(24, 1), Array( _
      25, 1), Array(26, 1), Array(27, 1), Array(28, 1), Array(29, 1), Array(30, 1), Array(31, 1), _
      Array(32, 1), Array(33, 1), Array(34, 1), Array(35, 1), Array(36, 1), Array(37, 1), Array( _
      38, 1), Array(39, 1), Array(40, 1), Array(41, 1), Array(42, 1), Array(43, 1), Array(44, 1), _
      Array(45, 1), Array(46, 1), Array(47, 1), Array(48, 1), Array(49, 1), Array(50, 1), Array( _
      51, 1), Array(52, 1), Array(53, 1), Array(54, 1), Array(55, 1), Array(56, 1), Array(57, 1), _
      Array(58, 1), Array(59, 1), Array(60, 1), Array(61, 1), Array(62, 1), Array(63, 1), Array( _
      64, 1), Array(65, 1), Array(66, 1), Array(67, 1), Array(68, 1), Array(69, 1), Array(70, 1), _
      Array(71, 1), Array(72, 1), Array(73, 1), Array(74, 1), Array(75, 1), Array(76, 1), Array( _
      77, 1), Array(78, 1), Array(79, 1), Array(80, 1)), TrailingMinusNumbers:=True
      Range("A1").Select
      End Sub

  19. I'm trying to get the text after the third "/" in a list of class names in the form:
    MIL/MZ/AD/INT-B1-BLUE-29-10-19-Tue-W-F-10:00-13:00
    With the formula below from the top of your thread I can get rid of MIL/MZ/ but I still need to get rid of AD/
    =RIGHT(F2,LEN(F2) - SEARCH("/", F2, SEARCH("/", F2) + 1))
    is giving me
    AD/INT-B1-RED-23-09-19-M-W-Th-18:30-21:30
    I tried playing and came up with:
    =RIGHT(F2,LEN(F2) - SEARCH("/", F2, SEARCH("/", F2, SEARCH("/", F2) + 1)))
    Which gives the same result as:
    =RIGHT(F2,LEN(F2) - SEARCH("/", F2, SEARCH("/", F2) + 1))
    I really don't understand the syntax so I've reached an impasse. If you are able to help I'd be grateful.
    Thanks in anticipation.

    1. You have the answer, just need to do another RIGHT command to get the characters to the right of the remaining '/' symbol.
      =RIGHT(RIGHT(B2,LEN(B2)-(SEARCH("/",B2,SEARCH("/",B2)+1))),LEN(RIGHT(B2,LEN(B2)-(SEARCH("/",B2,SEARCH("/",B2)+1))))-SEARCH("/",RIGHT(B2,LEN(B2)-(SEARCH("/",B2,SEARCH("/",B2)+1)))))

  20. Hi guys, I have a situation here as i need to split this one sentence into different columns IN EXCEL using a formula, as all words having spaces of different types.

    RDH10265/2 12,00 PC OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER/SFP+ SM 10.3Gb/s 1.4
    Thanks

    1. Use Find & Replace and replace 2 spaces with 1 space over the whole column. Run it multiple times till no changes occur. Now you can run formula and split out columns on single spaces.

  21. how will u split the below sting where there is only enter key
    1 Unit Fodder Grass Bijankur-BB2 50 gm Rs. 335
    1 Unit Fodder Grass Alamdar 51 1 kg Rs. 675
    1 Unit Fodder Grass Bijankur-BB2 50 gm Rs. 335
    1 Unit Fodder Grass Alamdar 51 1 kg Rs. 675

    1. Depending on where you want to break the text you can use LEFT, RIGHT and MID string.
      =LEFT(A1,FIND("Rs.",A1)-1) to trim off the price
      =NUMBERVALUE(RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-FIND("Rs.",A1)-3)) to get the price

  22. I have data in a column of cells similar to the following:
    A, B, C
    A
    B, C
    A, C
    B
    So now I want to filter the column by the data. However when I do this< my choices would be:
    A, B, C
    A
    A, C
    B
    B, C
    Where I really just want to filter by:
    A
    B
    C
    Should I separate the data by a different character to get this? Or is this something I need to dig further into to do in VB? Currently the data is entered into the cell using a drop down box, & then have some VB coded to have multi, non-repetitive selections that are separated by a comma. Thanks.

    1. Another character or assigning a value seems the easiest. Like Binary. A=1 B=2 C=4.
      Then a custom filter = selecting A will show all 1,3,5 and 7
      Selecting B will show 2,3 and 6
      Selecting C will show 4,5 and 6

  23. How about
    71200 Online Order Fees $376.12

    to 3 columns.

    Account Description Amount (with no dollar$)

    1. in A1 : 71200 Online Order Fees $376.12
      in B1 : =LEFT(A1,FIND(" ",A1)-1)
      in C1 : =MID(A1,FIND(" ",A1)+1,FIND("$",A1)-FIND(" ",A1)-2)
      in D1 : =NUMBERVALUE(RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-FIND("$",A1)))
      This is assuming no one puts a $ in the text...

  24. Source is like this...
    P. Umesh, 123 ramesh, 34 p. M. Kavya, 10,55
    Out put
    P. Umesh 123
    Ramesh 34
    P.m.kavya 10
    P. M. Kavya 55

    Could plz me this problem...

  25. Hi,
    I have a question need for it answer by formulas to split according to dash all the contents of cell into separator in many cells beside each other as following example:
    What I have in Cell A1:
    Orange com - Emad Farag - Telephone bill - Month April 2019 - paid from cash
    What I need in Cells C1, D1, E1, F1, G1
    C1 D1 E1 F1 G1
    Orange com Emad Farag Telephone bill Month April 2019 paid from cash

    Thanks

    1. Hi Emid, Is your problem solved or I can help you in solving the problem.

  26. In an XL spread sheet - column "?" I'd like to split rows #25, 26, 27, 28, 29 & 30 BUT not add an additional column. These rows are situated partway down an XL spreadsheet and I cannot distrurb any columns or rows around this particular block.
    Can this be accomplished?
    E.g. - in each of the the cells:
    Data 21
    Data 22
    Data 23 As per above, I'd like to keep the column and cells as is but have them "split" between "Data and the number value.

    Appreciate any help you may have~!

  27. Hi,
    Please advise a formula for the below sample data
    "Apple 8Ap #556-1337 Ali Avenue
    Galaxy S823433 Eet, Av.
    Google Pixel 2P.O. Box e446,Justo Av"
    In the above lines i want to split Device and Address in two different cells using formulae.
    For Eg: In Column 'A' we have "Apple 8Ap #556-1337 Ali Avenue", then using a formula i require
    Device should be extracted in column B as "Apple 8"
    Similarly, Address should be extracted in Column C "Ap #556-1337 Ali Avenue"

    Note: I have 1000 different devices, where i should not entry any data manually.
    Kindly help me with this.

  28. Hi,
    I have a huge data file in this text format:

    "0009_000006-1","Camera Equipment"
    "2/1/2018","2/28/2018","$39.83",""
    "3/1/2018","3/31/2018","$39.83",""
    "4/1/2018","4/30/2018","$39.83",""
    "5/1/2018","5/31/2018","$39.83",""
    "6/1/2018","6/30/2018","$39.83",""
    "7/1/2018","7/31/2018","$39.83",""
    "8/1/2018","8/31/2018","$39.83",""
    "9/1/2018","9/30/2018","$39.83",""
    "10/1/2018","10/31/2018","$39.83",""
    "11/1/2018","11/30/2018","$39.88",""
    "--------------------"
    "Total for","2018",":","$398.35",""
    "===================="
    "--------------------"
    "Totals for Asset:","0009_000006-1"
    "Projection Grand Total:","$398.35"
    "Pre-","Projection Grand Total:","$0.00"
    "===================="
    "0009_000025-1","34801 HP Elitebook 840G1"
    "2/1/2018","2/28/2018","$42.10",""
    "3/1/2018","3/31/2018","$42.10",""
    "4/1/2018","4/30/2018","$42.10",""
    "5/1/2018","5/31/2018","$42.10",""
    "6/1/2018","6/30/2018","$42.10",""
    "--------------------"
    "Total for","2018",":","$210.50",""
    "===================="
    How can I convert this huge data file to excel format so I can create pivot table:
    Asset ID Asset Class Begin Date End Date Amount
    0009_000006-1 Camera Equipment 2/1/2018 2/28/2018 $39.83
    0009_000006-1 Camera Equipment 3/1/2018 3/31/2018 $39.83
    0009_000006-1 Camera Equipment 4/1/2018 4/30/2018 $39.83
    0009_000006-1 Camera Equipment 5/1/2018 5/31/2018 $39.83
    0009_000006-1 Camera Equipment 6/1/2018 6/30/2018 $39.83
    0009_000006-1 Camera Equipment 7/1/2018 7/31/2018 $39.83
    0009_000006-1 Camera Equipment 8/1/2018 8/31/2018 $39.83
    0009_000006-1 Camera Equipment 9/1/2018 9/30/2018 $39.83
    0009_000006-1 Camera Equipment 10/1/2018 10/31/2018 $39.83
    0009_000006-1 Camera Equipment 11/1/2018 11/30/2018 $39.88
    0009_000025-1 34801 HP Elitebook 840G1 2/1/2018 2/28/2018 $42.10
    0009_000025-1 34801 HP Elitebook 840G1 3/1/2018 3/31/2018 $42.10
    0009_000025-1 34801 HP Elitebook 840G1 4/1/2018 4/30/2018 $42.10
    0009_000025-1 34801 HP Elitebook 840G1 5/1/2018 5/31/2018 $42.10
    0009_000025-1 34801 HP Elitebook 840G1 6/1/2018 6/30/2018 $42.10
    It would help me a deal if you can assist. Thank you!

    1. Hi Lynn, is your problem solved or I can help you?

  29. Hi there,
    I want to split a text in one cell into different columns but can the text be rearranged in a specific order?
    Cell A1 = Yellow/Magenta
    Cell A2 - Magenta/Yellow
    I would like Cell B1 = Yellow, C1 = Magenta, Cell B2 = Yellow and Cell C2 = Magenta

    Is there a formula that can do this?

    Thank you

    1. Use a column specific formula
      Assuming Data is in A1,A2 etc
      In B1
      =IFERROR(IF(FIND("Yellow",$A1)>0,"Yellow",""),"")
      In C1
      =IFERROR(IF(FIND("Magenta",$A1)>0,"Magenta",""),"")
      In D1
      =IFERROR(IF(FIND("next color",$A1)>0,"next color",""),"")
      The iferror stops the formula failing and puts a blank if the color is not found. If it is found anywhere in the string then it will show.
      The only problem you might have is putting in a "Light Yellow" as this will also flag as Yellow

  30. Hi there,
    I want to split text from a specific word. Would you please anyone share the formula.
    The raw date are given below.
    CLS1103 EIDF19 DUSTY BLUE
    CLSMK09 EIDF19 60E MIDNIGH
    What I want split from Eidf19. So cls1103 eidf19 is 1st column and 2nd column is dusty blue

  31. I have a single column of text which I want to parse into various columns, but the delimiter is currently multiples of blank spaces in front of the text. Such as the data which should be in the first column has 5 blanks in front, the data which should be in the second has 10 blanks in front and the data which should be in the third column has 15 blank spaces in front of the text. Example of how this looks in the current single column:

    Column1 text
    Column2 text
    Column3 text.

    The amount of text may vary in each column, but the leading blank spaces are constant. Thanks for your help!

    1. That didn't show up correctly, let me use _to emulate a blank space (but there are actually only spaces, no leading characters):
      _____text column 1 info
      __________text column 2 info
      _______________text column 3 info
      I hope that is more clear. Thanks.

      1. data in A1.
        These formulae take the data before the first 10 spaces as column 1, between 10 and 15 as column 2 and to the right of 15 spaces as column 3
        B1 =TRIM(LEFT(A1,FIND(" ",A1)))
        C1 =TRIM(MID(A1,FIND(" ",A1),FIND(" ",A1)-FIND(" ",A1)))
        D1 =TRIM(RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-FIND(" ",A1)))

        1. B1 =TRIM(LEFT(A1,FIND("10",A1)))
          C1 =TRIM(MID(A1,FIND("10",A1),FIND("15",A1)-FIND("10",A1)))
          D1 =TRIM(RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-FIND("15",A1)))

          website took out my spaces.
          numbers in the speechmarks are number of spaces.

  32. =LEFT(TRIM(B34),FIND("~",SUBSTITUTE(B34," ","~",LEN(TRIM(B34))-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(TRIM(B34)," ",""))))-4)

    Kindly define this formula.

    1. Find the last space in the B34 string and take everything to the left of that, less 4 characters. The string must have spaces for this to work.

  33. Is it just the way the syntax was created?

  34. SEARCH("-",A2,SEARCH("-",A2)+1) - SEARCH("-",A2) - 1)

    1. Hi Nathan,

      To explain it better, let's have a look at the full formula:
      =MID(A2, SEARCH("-", A2) + 1, SEARCH("-", A2, SEARCH("-",A2) +1) - SEARCH("-", A2) - 1)

      1. Start_num argument: SEARCH("-",A2) + 1. It finds the position of the first character to extract; +1 is needed to start extraction beginning with the character that follows the first hyphen, not including the hyphen itself.

      2. Num_chars argument (how many characters to extract): SEARCH("-", A2, SEARCH("-",A2) +1) - SEARCH("-", A2) - 1. To find the position of the 2nd hyphen, you put SEARCH("-",A2)+1) in the start_num of the first SEARCH function to tell it to start searching beginning with the character after the 1st hyphen (this way, you exclude the first hyphen from search). Then, you subtract the position of the 1st hyphen from the position of the 2nd hyphen to find how many characters are between them. But this number includes the 2nd hyphen, so you put -1 at the end to remove the 2nd hyphen from the returned substring.

  35. In example #2 above, can you explain the +1 when finding the difference between the 2nd and 1st hyphens and how does the last search argument explains how the function understands how to extract all the characters between the two hyphens?

  36. I have a full description of a part in one column and need to pull over no more then 35 characters. I need to do this at a "space" but not go over 35 characters on my limit. please help!

    thanks!!

    1. =LEFT(A1,FIND("☃",SUBSTITUTE(A1," ","☃",LEN(LEFT(A1,36))-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(LEFT(A1,36)," ","")))))
      (Left(a1,36)) This trims the string to a maximum of 36 characters. 36 because if the 36th is a space then 35 chars will be returned and if not, then the break will come earlier in the string and less will be returned.
      The statement LEN-LEN(substitute) finds the length of the string, and then the length with the spaces removed. This gives the number of spaces in the string.
      The Substitute inside the Find statement then changes the last space to a snowman, and the Find returns that position in the string.
      Finally the left statement cuts the string at that point and gives your value.

  37. Hi , thanks a lot for this, but i have a big problem , it's only for 3 column, i am working as data entry and i have 10 column , hot to do this please help

  38. Gemcitabine_pow_1000 mg_1 X 1V
    Ranitidine_tab MR_150 mg_6 X 10T
    Ranitidine_tab MR_300 mg_3 X 10T

    Above text please separate from "_" (Only by formula) , Not by text to column

    Please send me formula

  39. I have the following data in one cell. i like to spit these data in different cells. is anybody can help?
    1/15/2019 4320 610285062 1 30 0930 1143 88 167.75 14.26 $182.01

    1. in Excel select the cell/column.
      On the ribbon, choose Data tab, "Text to Columns" and select delimiter and then untick Tab and select Space

  40. i have data in excel

    A battery consists of (a) only one cell (b) only two cells (c) two or more cells (d) All of the above

    Column A Column B Column C Column D Column E

    i need to separate Data for example

    1. Before (a) Column A
    2. After (a) and Before (b) Column B
    3. After (b) and Before (c) Column C
    4. After (C) and Before (D) Column D
    5. After (D) Column E

    pls help

  41. I have a text string that I am trying to split which has different characters to split in the string.
    Example string
    Product Support 2018 H2~TC03986-01-ICS

    I want to split it as "Product Support 2018 H2" "TC03986-01" and "ICS"
    I am not sure if it is possible to use two different separators, but the "~" causes a problem. I have tried to use CHAR(126) but this does not work. I have also tried to replace the ~ using search and replace.

    1. Part answer:
      =LEFT(C20,FIND("~",C20)-1) to get product

  42. Arvind:
    To split this string I would use the Text-to-Column tool.
    You can find it under the data tab. Use the fixed width option and after you enter the comma as a field choose the Do Not Import option for the comma.

  43. I want to split this
    Sr. N0 first name last name postal code

    1 jokovic,novok (SRB) 13630

    HOW ?

  44. String is $GPRMC,062745.044,A,1830.2470,N,07350.5297,E,1.07,44.40,101018,,,A*54

    how to split into columns with removal of comma with formula.

    ex-
    1st column=$GPRMC
    2ND COLUMN=062745.044
    3RD COLUMN=A
    4TH COLUMN=1830.2470
    5TH COLUMN=N
    6TH COLUMN=07350.5297
    WHAT FORMULA SHOULD I USE. I need only formula or macro code not other ready made option in excel.

    Thanks

  45. I want to extract the City from the following rows. The City is the word in between the LAST space of the field and the comma of the field. The comma is always the last character in the field. What formula should I use?
    1111 FM 1585 LUBBOCK,
    2222 10TH ST SHALLOWATER,
    333 COLTON AVE LUBBOCK,

    1. Hello, Claudia,

      Suppose your data are in column A, please try to enter the following formula in cell B1 and then copy it down along the column:

      =MID(A1, FIND("#", SUBSTITUTE(A1, " ", "#", LEN(A1)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A1, " ", ""))))+1, LEN(A1)-FIND("#", SUBSTITUTE(A1, " ", "#", LEN(A1)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A1, " ", ""))))-1)

      Hope this is what you need.

  46. Hi,

    how can you split string "abcdef" in a single character per row?

    1. Swati:
      The simplest method to accomplish what you want is to use the Text-to-Columns tool. People seem to turn their collective nose up at using this tool and I don't know why.
      Highlight the cell containing the data to split.
      Select under the Data tab on the ribbon select the Text-to-Columns option.
      In the Text-to-Columns window select the Fixed Width radio button.
      Left click the places where you want the data to be split.
      Click finish.
      This will leave the first character in the original cell and the data will be in separate cells.
      If you have multiple rows containing data to be split, highlight all the rows and go through the same process.
      You can split multiple rows, but not multiple columns.

      1. Doug, the reason that this doesn't work for me is that I have an export where the data looks like this: 422353-1-5 but the first number can be any length up to 7 digits. If the first number is from about 1900 to 9999, the Excel sheet has those cells formatted as a date with the correct ones formatted like a string. I need to determine on a row by row basis whether it's a date so I use an IFERROR function to split it into 3 columns.

        If I only had to do this once, I would simply do this: =IFERROR( YEAR(B2)&"-"&MONTH(B2)&"-"&DAY(B2), B2) and then split it into 3 columns, but this is something that needs to be done all of the time and it's faster to do it by having a proper formula that can be copied down.

  47. Formulas for splitting text string with spaces into columns worked perfectly.
    Thank you.

  48. Hi
    Irregular word and Number in excel 1 column to multi column like
    Example:JSE SALE 2800 DRS CASH 2815
    1. words in 1 column
    2. Numbers in 1 column

  49. Clarence:
    I can't tell if there is a space between the first decimal and the "1". If there isn't, I think this will work for you. Where the original string is in K1 enter this in an empty cell.

    =MID(K1,1,3)&" "&MID(K1,5,2)&""&MID(K1,7,4)&""&MID(K1,11,3)&" "&MID(K1,15,3)&""&MID(K1,18,7)&" "&MID(K1,25,7)
    I hope you see how this formula works. It counts the characters including spaces goes to the next number of characters indicated by the second number and then returns that number of characters followed by a space or in some cases no space if there already was a space in the original. I got tired of counting characters.
    If you need a space after the first decimal add another &""&MID(K1,etc)
    like this:
    =MID(K1,1,3)&" "&MID(K1,5,2)&""&MID(K1,7,4)&""&MID(K1,11,3)&" "&MID(K1,15,3)&""&MID(K1,18,4)&" "&MID(K1,22,3)&" "&MID(K1,25,7)

  50. I need a help with a formula.. We get some data interfaced to our system but due to some error at source it is stuck in the temporary area and does not move to the live area. The error is for eg.
    DXB EK LON AC YYZ 234.123567.34 the error is that 2 amounts are merged. The result I require is that after 2 decimal places I need a space like DXB EK LON AC YYZ 234.12 3567.34. Would I be able to get the correct string in another cell using excel formula.

    1. =LEFT(A1,FIND(".",A1)+2)&" "&RIGHT(A1,(LEN(A1)-FIND(".",A1))-2)

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