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Import text to Excel

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5 replies

by johnnyjj

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I am importing a text file with a with a user name that can have three fields. Sometimes there is a middle initial and sometimes there is not a middle initial or name. This variable causes the last three fields to shift back and forth. How do I get around this?

5 replies

by shanghai sam

I am dealing with a text file has an identification number, first name, possible middle initial or name, last name, number field, date yyyy/mm/dd, and dollar amount. That is the setup for each record. Each field is separated by a space.

by mslizny

If you do not have "empty" fields (two spaces?) for the missing middle initials you will not be able to have Excel provide a blank space for these names in the "middle initial" field.

For example, if you open the file in Word and replacing each space between the fields with a character, are there two characters when there is no middle initial? If your data does not account for the missing middle initials, you will have to add to the imported file, perhaps with Find and Replace in Word before you import it to Excel.

by shanghai sam

That is pretty much what I was thinking also. Just wishing that someone would some trick to get around this. Thanks very much.

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