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copying part previous column

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Copying part of previous column (e.g first names) to current

ResolvedVersion 2013

Sam has attended:
Word Advanced course
Excel Advanced course

Copying part of previous column (e.g first names) to current

If there is a column with the full name and in the next column, I just want the first names copied, aware there is a short cut. Can someone remind me what it is please.

Many thanks

RE: Copying part of previous column (e.g first names) to curren

Hi Sam

Thanks for your question. Yes there are a couple of ways to do this -

Using Text to Columns

1. Select the data containing your Fullnames and select Data, Text to Columns
2. Click on Delimited
3. Tick Space (rather than Tab)
4. Click Next and choose a destination cell for your first names.
5. Click Finish


Using Flash Fill

As you are using Excel 2013 a fun and easy way to do this is:

1. Type the first name for the first person to the right of your fullnames.
2. Highlight the cells to be filled including the name just typed in and choose Data, Flash Fill.

Hope that work!

Regards
Doug
STL







Excel tip:

Generate randon numbers

Some types of analysis require you to use randomly generated numbers. You can also use randomly generated numbers to quickly populate an Excel spreadsheet. There's an easy function you can use to do this automatically. Here are a few of the ways you can use it:

Type =RAND() in a cell to generate a number between 0 and 1.
Type =RAND()*100 to generate a number between 1 and 100.

View all Excel hints and tips

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