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Parse variable length strings



 
 
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  #1  
Old May 15th, 2009, 07:57 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
Ray
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 86
Default Parse variable length strings

Hi -

I have a data-dump that's used as the source data for a variance
report. One of the fields contains a transaction date and the name of
the purchaser ... this entry is always formatted like this:
dd.mm.yyyy lastname,firstname

Of course, the first & last names are of variable lengths. Is it
possible to build a formula that would essentially strip off the date
and space (eg "05.15.2009 "), leaving me with the full name of the
purchaser?

My current solution utilizes the text-to-columns functionality, but
requires the user to add a column (in the correct location or risk
over-writing data) and then using text-to-columns ... I'd like it to
be an 'automatic' action when the data is refreshed (ie, re-pasted).

Any ideas?

Thanks, ray
  #2  
Old May 15th, 2009, 08:29 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
Rick Rothstein[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,013
Default Parse variable length strings

Give this formula a try...

=TRIM(RIGHT(SUBSTITUTE(A1," ",REPT(" ",99)),99))

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


"Ray" wrote in message
...
Hi -

I have a data-dump that's used as the source data for a variance
report. One of the fields contains a transaction date and the name of
the purchaser ... this entry is always formatted like this:
dd.mm.yyyy lastname,firstname

Of course, the first & last names are of variable lengths. Is it
possible to build a formula that would essentially strip off the date
and space (eg "05.15.2009 "), leaving me with the full name of the
purchaser?

My current solution utilizes the text-to-columns functionality, but
requires the user to add a column (in the correct location or risk
over-writing data) and then using text-to-columns ... I'd like it to
be an 'automatic' action when the data is refreshed (ie, re-pasted).

Any ideas?

Thanks, ray


  #3  
Old May 15th, 2009, 09:34 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
T. Valko
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 15,759
Default Parse variable length strings

this entry is always formatted like this:
dd.mm.yyyy lastname,firstname


Try this:

=MID(A1,13,255)

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Ray" wrote in message
...
Hi -

I have a data-dump that's used as the source data for a variance
report. One of the fields contains a transaction date and the name of
the purchaser ... this entry is always formatted like this:
dd.mm.yyyy lastname,firstname

Of course, the first & last names are of variable lengths. Is it
possible to build a formula that would essentially strip off the date
and space (eg "05.15.2009 "), leaving me with the full name of the
purchaser?

My current solution utilizes the text-to-columns functionality, but
requires the user to add a column (in the correct location or risk
over-writing data) and then using text-to-columns ... I'd like it to
be an 'automatic' action when the data is refreshed (ie, re-pasted).

Any ideas?

Thanks, ray



  #4  
Old May 15th, 2009, 09:49 PM posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
Rick Rothstein[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,013
Default Parse variable length strings

Good point... the 'dd' part didn't register with me.

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


"T. Valko" wrote in message
...
this entry is always formatted like this:
dd.mm.yyyy lastname,firstname


Try this:

=MID(A1,13,255)

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Ray" wrote in message
...
Hi -

I have a data-dump that's used as the source data for a variance
report. One of the fields contains a transaction date and the name of
the purchaser ... this entry is always formatted like this:
dd.mm.yyyy lastname,firstname

Of course, the first & last names are of variable lengths. Is it
possible to build a formula that would essentially strip off the date
and space (eg "05.15.2009 "), leaving me with the full name of the
purchaser?

My current solution utilizes the text-to-columns functionality, but
requires the user to add a column (in the correct location or risk
over-writing data) and then using text-to-columns ... I'd like it to
be an 'automatic' action when the data is refreshed (ie, re-pasted).

Any ideas?

Thanks, ray




 




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