Excel Basics: How To Separate Text Into Columns
Do you have a list of data that you need to separate into columns in Excel? Maybe you have an address list with the city, state, and zip code all in one column. Or maybe you have a list of product SKUs and want to separate them into individual columns.
Well, before you can start applying all your Excel formulas, you’ll need to get your data all cleaned up. Data is typically cleaned by data engineers but if you’re working with financial data that mostly live within Excel databases, you’ll have to clean it yourself.
In this blog post, I will show you how to use the text to columns wizard in Excel to easily separate text into columns.
I will explain how to use the wizard by both delimiter and fixed width. So whether your data is separated by commas, tabs, or spaces, I will show you how to get it into neat and tidy columns!
Let’s get started!
How Do You Separate Text Into Columns in Excel?
Have you ever tried to filter your data in Excel only to find that all of your data ended up in one column? Before you try out these database tips in Excel, you might want to separate your data into columns first!
It can be frustrating, but luckily there is a tool that can help. The text to columns wizard in Excel allows you to easily separate text into multiple columns.
There are two main ways to use the text to columns wizard: by a delimiter and by fixed width.
If your data is separated by a specific character, such as a comma or tab, then you would use the delimiter option. For example, if your data looks like this:
You would use a comma as your delimiter.
If your data is not separated by a specific character, but you want to split it into columns of equal width, then you would use the fixed width option.
For example, if your data looks like this:
You would use fixed width to split the text into columns.
How To Use The Delimiter Option to Separate Text in Excel
Let’s say you have a list of addresses in one column and you want to separate them into individual columns for the city, state, and zip code. To do this, we would use the delimiter option.
First, highlight the column of data that you want to split. Then, go to the Data tab and click Text to Columns.
In the Convert Text to Columns Wizard, select Delimited and click Next.
On the next page, check the box next to Comma and clear any other boxes that are checked. Then, click Next.
On the next page, you will see a preview of how your data will look when it is split into columns. If everything looks good, click Finish.
And that’s it! Your text should now be split into columns.
End Result
Now that your data is arranged neatly into separate columns, your data format is more suited for further analysis using pivot tables!
How To Use The Fixed Width Option to Separate Text in Excel
If you want to split your text by fixed width, the process is similar. Highlight the column of data that you want to split and go to the Data tab. Click Text to Columns.
In the Convert Text to Columns Wizard, select Fixed Width and click Next.
On the next page, you will see a preview of how your data will look when it is split into columns. Place a break in between each column where you want to split the text. Then, click Next.
On the next page, you will see a preview of how your data will look when it is split into columns. If everything looks good, click Finish.
And that’s it! Your text should now be split into columns.
End Result
I hope this blog post was helpful in showing you how to use the text to columns wizard in Excel. Do consider using this simple but powerful tool in your next data mining or Excel project.
Key Takeaways:
– The text to columns wizard in Excel allows you to easily separate text into multiple columns.
– There are two main ways to use the text to columns wizard: by delimiter and by fixed width.
– If your data is separated by a specific character, such as a comma or tab, then you would use the delimiter option.
– If your data is not separated by a specific character, but you want to split it into columns of equal width, then you would use the fixed width option.
– To use the text to columns wizard, highlight the column of data that you want to split and go to the Data tab. Click Text to Columns. Then, follow the instructions in the wizard.
– Your text should now be split into columns.
Thanks for reading!
Enjoyed this basic tutorial on separating data? Having basic training in Microsoft Excel is important for success in many jobs. If you want to learn more about how to use Excel, check out the other blog posts or sign up for one of our Excel training workshops!
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Author Bio
Austin Chia is the Founder of Any Instructor. A data analytics and Excel enthusiast, he seeks to help others learn more about Excel and anything related to analytics and tech. He has experience as a data analyst and data scientist in healthcare and research.
