byundt,
Thank you.
While I see the Text to Columns option and am attempting this, I do NOT have a numeric keyboard here, any suggestions for getting around that?
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Excel (out of) convert Alt+Return characters to Tabs?
II have been handed an excel spreadsheet of contact information, and asked to convert it into a useful format for eventual import into other databases.
Unfortunately, the existing Excel spreadsheet format of column 1, field 1 is an entire address with line wraps (I think this means Alt+Return to do that) and column 2, Field 1 is the NEXT address, again line wrapped Address, City, State, Zipe etc, all in the same field, but line wrapped with what I think was an Alt+rReturn.
I need to move each line into it's own column.
I've attached a csv export of the header row and first three records for examination and experimentation. What I notice is that in the text file, an Alt+Returned text field, or field-string, or whatever we would call this.... is surrounded by a pair of quotes. THAT might be all the "handle" we need to get hold of this data and turn all the line returns within, to tabs for making each enclosed line a new column.
Hope this made sense, please question me if it does not. This is much more a "data extraction and conversion" question, than it is an Excel question.
Regards, and thank you in advance for tackling it.
iantsears
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Answers
byundt,
Another wonderful solution. However, it did not apply enough to me, and that is my fault perhaps. I had a "Dho!" moment and of course persued your suggestion, I even plugged in an external keyboard with numeric keypad.
Here is my problem with your solution (which I think your solution is correct and will work fine)....
In my case, I am on an Apple MacBook (not MacBook Pro) and using Excel 2004 (for Mac) v11.3.6. When at the step wherein you've suggested holding Alt+numeric keypad 010, my use of Mac dictates that I look at the keyboard where the APPLE Option Key is also printed with an equivilent "alt". This means that it works as the Windows/PC alt key when called for.
In Excel, I selected the checkbox "Other" held that alt key and typed 0 1 0. However, Excel complaines that only ONE character can be typed into that field at a time. Excel comlaines by allowing the first character to be typed, and then alert-sound when the second character is attempted (in this case the numeral 1).
Perhaps someone VERY familiar with Excel on an Apple, preferable a MacBook, could be called in to suggest a workaround at this point in your fix? Ideas?
I'm Googling for a solution like crazy myself too.
Thank you for your continued understanding in this fix.
Sincerely,
Iantsears
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by: byundtPosted on 2008-09-15 at 21:38:51ID: 22484934
In Excel, if you insert some blank columns to the right of your data, you can use the Data...Text to Columns menu item to break it up at the line feed character. Specify that the data is delimited, then click in the field for "Other". Hold the ALT key down, then enter 010 using the numeric keypad. This will split the cell at the line feed character.