Split Data in One Column Into Two or More Columns

DEMO
Split Data in One
Column Into Two
or More Columns
Welcome to Excel Tips and Tricks with Chuck Chauvin. These Practice Notes are
How to split data or text from one
a handy reference to use while running the tip online, as a review when you want
column into two columns using the
to use the Practice File, or to work on one of your own spreadsheets. You can view
Text to Column wizard
them on screen, print a copy, or save to your computer. You can save the Practice
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to practice with the Practice File or to copy to your own worksheets.
Good Luck, enjoy the tip, and remember to practice, practice, practice to become truly proficient!
■ EXAMPLE:
Here is a spreadsheet with a list of names in
column A. We now want to create a new
column and “split” the last name into this
new column.
1. Select column B at the top, “right click” in
the column, and click Insert on the menu.
HINT: In this example, notice there are no
middle initials or titles, therefore inserting only
one column is fine. If middle initials
or titles exist, add additional columns as
appropriate.
EXCEL TIPS & TRICKS PRACTICE NOTES | DEMO TIP • 1
Split Data in One Column
Into Two or More Columns
2. Select the range of the text to split in
column A (without the label) by selecting
cell A5 and then
[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [Down Arrow],
all at the same time.
3. On the Data menu, click Text to Columns...
4. The “Convert Text to Columns Wizard” has
three steps.
NOTE:
The Wizard has determined that your
column of data is Delimited, so just agree
with this by clicking the Next > button. A
delimiter is simply an item the wizard will
use to determine the split such as a comma,
a space, or a tab. There may be other times
you will use this wizard to split fixed-width
fields, such as when importing data from a
mainframe when there is no delimiter.
EXCEL TIPS & TRICKS PRACTICE NOTES | DEMO TIP • 2
Split Data in One Column
Into Two or More Columns
5. In Step 2, specify what the delimiter is. Be
sure to uncheck any boxes which may be
checked that do not apply, and in this
example, choose Space since this is the
delimiter you want to use to separate the
last name from the first name. Note that
when you do this, a line appears in the
bottom section of the dialog box showing
where the separation will be. In this
example, we do not need Step 3, which is
only to change formatting. Click the Finish
button and look at the results.
How It Works:
NOTE:
The Wizard moved the last name to column
B. Next, you should change the labels in
Column A and B to reflect First Name and
Last Name. The Text to Columns wizard
used the Delimiter that we set (space) to
determine what part of the text to move
over to the column on the right.
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