how do you split a column

i.e. i have two colums of data copied into one column bc that's the easiest way to copy it from the webpage, im pretty sure you can just split these in excel, anyone know how?

11/21/2005 12:54:30 AM

don't think you can

11/21/2005 12:58:52 AM

how should i do this then, i want the date in one column and the spot rate (foreign exchange rate) in another, but when i copy/paste from the website it obviously puts it all in one column.....

it won't let me copy just one side of the page, and i don't think a text capture would work either right? i don't feel like manually doing it for like 2000 entries, anyone?

Quote :

"Kristie asks "I am trying to convert one column that has both last name and first name (LAST NAME, FIRST NAME M.I.) in it to two columns, one with last name and one with first name. Is there a way to do this?" To do this, use Text to Columns. Select the column where you have the names, go to Data, Text to Columns, select Delimited in Step 1, in Step 2 make sure that the comma checkbox is activated. Finally, in step 3 select a Destination cell (It defaults to the current cell). Hit Finish and that's it. By Juan Pablo Gonzalez on 31-Jan-2002"

[Edited on November 21, 2005 at 1:06 AM. Reason : in case anyone wants to know]

11/21/2005 1:02:41 AM

if it's separated by a space or something unique, you can paste it into a text editor, and do a Replace All on this unique character and replace it with a Tab (\t), and then paste it into Excel

You may need to copy a into the clipboard so you can paste it into the Relace With box. EmEditor is the only program I know of that you can use \t in.

It may not be the best way to do it, but it's quick and gets the job done.

[Edited on November 21, 2005 at 1:08 AM. Reason : ^ or do it that way]

11/21/2005 1:07:06 AM

copy and then paste it into a text file. open the text file from excel and it will go through the text delimiting wizard where you can choose what you want the column breaks to be.

11/21/2005 1:07:45 AM

cool, but i think the way i posted in my edit is probably the most convenient

11/21/2005 1:32:56 AM

Quote :

"don't think you can"

I think if you have never heard of text to column, then you should refrain from EVER giving excel advice again.

11/21/2005 7:32:59 AM

yeah this is pretty rediculous. text editor. whatever

data > text to columns

is all you need.

11/21/2005 7:57:26 AM

Select "Use text import wizard..."
It's the same thing as Data -- Text to Columns, but a little easier to get to.


But depending on your source data, things might get tricky if there's a strange distribution of spaces or tabs. Like if some entries in one column have a space in the text but others don't.

[Edited on November 21, 2005 at 9:42 AM. Reason : ]

11/21/2005 9:41:08 AM