Removing Leading Space after hard return in cell

[Micheleami]

I have a spreadsheet with items separated by a semi-colon and use Control + Shift + J to replace the semi-colon with a hard return. The ultimate goal is for all items to be stacked within the cell. However, whether I use Control + Shift + J or macros for replacing a character with a hard return, I'm always left with a space for each return as shown below (post is removing the spaces so pretend there is a space before Oranges and Pears).
Apples
Oranges
Pears
I have been unable to find a solution to remove the spaces before the second, third, fourth, etc. items.
Thoughts?
Thank you in advance!

 

[Rick Rothstein]

I have a spreadsheet with items separated by a semi-colon and use Control + Shift + J to replace the semi-colon with a hard return. The ultimate goal is for all items to be stacked within the cell. However, whether I use Control + Shift + J or macros for replacing a character with a hard return, I'm always left with a space for each return as shown below (post is removing the spaces so pretend there is a space before Oranges and Pears).
Apples
Oranges
Pears
I have been unable to find a solution to remove the spaces before the second, third, fourth, etc. items.
Thoughts?
Thank you in advance!

I don't understand the Control+Shift+J reference... it does not seem to do anything that I can detect on my computer. How exactly are you using it? Also, maybe you can explain in a little more detail what you have and what you want afterwards so that we can understand better what you are trying to accomplish.

 

[Micheleami]

Hi Rick - Sorry for not being clear. I can post a sample spreadsheet, but don't see an attachment option. Basically, I start off with a list of items in a cell separated by a semi-colon and then a space. The space is an issue. Whether I enter a hard return to replace the semi-colon - whether by macro or Find and Replace, the leading space still remains. I cannot find a way to remove that leading space before the items so that the items are neatly in line on top of one another in the cell.

 

[shift-del]

Micheleami,

why don't you replace semicolon AND space with linefeed?

 

[Rick Rothstein]

Hi Rick - Sorry for not being clear. I can post a sample spreadsheet, but don't see an attachment option. Basically, I start off with a list of items in a cell separated by a semi-colon and then a space. The space is an issue. Whether I enter a hard return to replace the semi-colon - whether by macro or Find and Replace, the leading space still remains. I cannot find a way to remove that leading space before the items so that the items are neatly in line on top of one another in the cell.

Instead of replacing just the semi-colon, replace both the semi-colon and space. Assuming you are using Excel's Replace dialog box, put this in the "Find what" field...

"; "

but leave off the quote marks. As for what you put in the "Replace with" field... Control+J is all you need to key-in, the Shift key is unnecessary.

On a side note, you cannot attach files in this forum... the best way to do it is to upload the file to DropBox and provide us with the link you get for that file.

 

[Micheleami]

Duh. That works! Thank you so much!

 

[Micheleami]

Thank you! I didn't think you could do that!