Save re-typing time: Rearrange your names with a formula instead
by Julie Duncan
Application:
Microsoft Excel 2000/2002/2003/2004/2007
Operating Systems:
Microsoft Windows, Macintosh
It’s enough of a trick to transform a single-column list of names into separate columns for first and last names, but things get even more confusing when the last names come before the first. We’ll give you the tools you need to transpose and separate your names without having to retype them.
To gain control of the functions that govern splitting and transposing names, we’ll:
• Reverse first and last names while also removing the comma that separates them.
• Isolate the first and last names in separate cells.
• Save you from the dreaded #VALUE! error that appears when you try to delete your original names.
When your list of names needs to be switched from “Lastname, Firstname” to “Firstname Lastname,” or when you need to divide your comma-separated list of names between two columns, it’s tempting to just start retyping. After all, by the time you figure out an easier way, you may have wasted even more time than it would have taken to type at full speed. Resist the temptation and give your fingers a well-deserved break. We’ll show you how to switch the first and last name, remove a comma, and place the first and last name in separate columns.
Transpose the last name and first name
If your customer names were input last name first, we’ll use a combination of the FIND, LEFT,
Download: To follow along with our example, download the sample file names.xls from the URL given at the beginning of this article.
A:
Typing
