Excel has many functions to offer when it comes to manipulating text strings. Formula tab → Function Library Group → Text Function N/B: Every formula in excel must begin with an equal sign, function then in bracket; cell name/cell ranges/cell references. Syntax: =fx(cell name/cell ranges/cell references) Example: = Sum( A1:B4) Where Sum is the function name and A1:B4 is …
This example teaches you how to separate strings in Excel. Asides from using ‘Convert Text to Columns Wizard’ in data tab, you can as well follow the steps below to Separate Text Strings in Excel . The problem we are dealing with is that we need to tell Excel where we want to separate the string. In case of …
This chapter shows how to count the number of words in a cell. 1a. The TRIM function returns a string with leading spaces, extra spaces and trailing spaces removed. 1b. To get the length of the string with normal spaces, we combine the LEN and TRIM function. 2a. The SUBSTITUTE function replaces existing text with new text in a …
What are RIGHT, RIGHTB functions in Excel? RIGHT, RIGHTB functions are TEXT functions in Microsoft Excel RIGHT returns the last character or characters in a text string, based on the number of characters you specify. While, RIGHTB returns the last character or characters in a text string, based on the number of bytes you specify. Important: …
If you need extract the last name from a full name, you can do so with this rather complex formula that uses several functions. Note: In the formula below, name is a full name, with a space separating the first name from other parts of the name. Formula =RIGHT(name,LEN(name)-FIND(“*”,SUBSTITUTE(name,” “,”*”, LEN(name)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(name,” “,””))))) Important! Handling inconsistent …
To extract the first name from a full name in “Last, First” format, you can use a formula that uses RIGHT, LEN and FIND functions. Note: this formula will only work with names in Last, First format, separated with a comma and space. Formula =RIGHT(name,LEN(name)-FIND(“, “,name)-1) Explanation From the table and formula (above), name represent full …
To extract a substring with an Excel formula, you can use the MID function. Note: In this example, we are calculating the end position in order to extract a substring with a literal start and end position. However, if you know the number of characters to extract, you can just plug in that number directly. Formula …
To get the last word from a text string, you can use a formula based on the TRIM, SUBSTITUTE, RIGHT, and REPT functions. Formula =TRIM(RIGHT(SUBSTITUTE(B5,CHAR(10),REPT(” “,200)),200)) Note: 200 is an arbitrary number that represents the longest line you expect to find in a cell. If you have longer lines, increase this number as needed. Explanation In …
To remove the first character in a cell, you can use the REPLACE function. Formula =REPLACE(A1,1,N,””) Explanation In the example shown, the formula in D5 is: =REPLACE(A1,1,1,””) How this formula works This formula uses the REPLACE function to replace the first character in a cell with an empty string (“”). The arguments for REPLACE are …
To split a number from a unit value, you need to determine the position of the last number. If you add 1 to that position, you have the start of the unit text. Note: these is an experimental formula that uses a hard coded array constant, set down here for reference and comment. Casually tested …
To split dimensions that like 100x50x25 into three separate parts, you can use some rather complicated formulas that use LEFT, MID, RIGHT, FIND, LEN, and SUBSTITUTE. Note: you can also use Flash Fill in Excel 2013 and above, and the “text to columns” feature in older versions of Excel. Both approaches are quite a bit …
To split a text string at a certain character, you can use a combination of the LEFT, RIGHT, LEN, and FIND functions. Formula =LEFT(text,FIND(character,text)-1) Explanation In the example shown, the formula in C5 is: =LEFT(B5,FIND(“_”,B5)-1) And the formula in D5 is: =RIGHT(B5,LEN(B5)-FIND(“_”,B5)) How these formulas work The first formula uses the FIND function to locate …
To extract the top level domain (called “TLD”) from a list of domain names or email addresses, you can use a rather complex formula that uses several functions. In the formula below, domain represents a domain or email address in normal “dot” syntax. Formula =RIGHT(domain,LEN(domain)-FIND(“*”,SUBSTITUTE(domain,”.”,”*”, LEN(domain)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(domain,”.”,””))))) Explanation In the example, the active cell contains this formula: …
If you want to get the sheet name only (i.e. the sheet name without the file name or path) you can do so with rather long formula that uses the MID function along with the FIND function. The final result will look something like this: Sheet1 Formula =MID(CELL(“filename”,A1),FIND(“]”, CELL(“filename”,A1))+1,255) Explanation How the formula works The …
This tutorial shows how to Convert text date dd/mm/yy to mm/dd/yy in Excel using example below. To convert dates in text format dd/mm/yy to a true date in mm/dd/yy format, you can use uses a formula based on the DATE function. Formula =DATE(RIGHT(A1,2)+2000,MID(A1,4,2),LEFT(A1,2)) Explanation In the example shown, the formula in C5 is: =DATE(RIGHT(B5,2)+2000,MID(B5,4,2),LEFT(B5,2)) Which …
To convert simple text values to numbers, you can use the the VALUE function, or simply add zero as described below. Formula =VALUE(A1) Explanation In the example shown, the formula in C5 is: =VALUE(B5) Background Sometimes Excel ends up with text in a cell, when you really want a number. There are many reasons this …
This tutorial show how to Convert text to date in Excel using the example below. To convert text in an unrecognized date format to a proper Excel date, you can parse the text and assemble a proper date with a formula based on several functions: DATE, LEFT, MID, and RIGHT. Note: Before you go the formula route, see …
This tutorial show how to get date from day number in Excel using the example below. To get a real date from day number, or “nth day of year” you can use the DATE function. Formula =DATE(year,1,daynum) Explanation of how this formula works In the example shown, the formula in C5 is: =DATE(2015,1,B5) The DATE function build …
This tutorial shows how to Highlight cells that end with in Excel using the example below; Formula =COUNTIF(A1,”*text”) Explanation Note: Excel contains many built-in rules for highlighting values with conditional formatting, including a rule to highlight cells that end with specific text. However, if you want more flexibility, you can use your own formula, as explained …