aQUIRING DATA FROM TEXT

[selkov]

I have a text file with 5000+ entries.
the format is :"data - data - data - data - data"
I want to export it to excel & columize the seperate data fileds.

However the lenght of the data varies so I can not use the left() or Mid() functions.

I need a script that will read left to "-" where the # of spaces to the left of each "-" will change from line to line.

Any help is apreciated.....

 

[Joe4]

Maybe I am not understanding the question fully, but can't you just use the the "-" as your delimiter to split your data into the appropriate columns?

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

If it's a .txt file and you open it in Excel, you will be presented with the Text Import Wizard. If you choose Delimited at Step 1 you can specify the delimiters at Step 2.

 

[selkov]

No,
When I open the text file via "open with" excel dumps all the data into 1 colum.

 

[Joe4]

Instead of doing an "Open With", go into Excel first, then open the File from inside Excel. That should trigger the Import Wizard where you can specify your delimiter.

-OR-

If it is in Excel as one column, you can use Text to Columns (under the Data menu) to split the one column into multiple ones using a delimiter.

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

If that's the case click the column header and choose Data|Text to Columns from the menu. You'll get the same Wizard.

 

[Oaktree]

As Andrew said, "...open it in Excel..." instead of from Windows Explorer or whatever. Opening it in Excel should start the text import wizard.

 

[selkov]

Andrew,

Thanks.

I never new that.

Works fine