Split search value using a delimiter and search for each substring

This article demonstrates formulas and a UDF that searches for values in a table based on concatenated values and returns the corresponding values also concatenated.

The example image above shows "anil singh raj" in cell B3, the UDF and formulas split the string in substrings and search for each sub-string in cell range E3:E5. If a match is found the corresponding value in cell range F3:F5 is returned.

The result values are concatenated if multiple values are matching values in cell range E3:E5. "anil" is found in cell E3, the corresponding value is 10. "singh" is found in cell E5, the corresponding value is 30. Value "raj" is found in cell E4 and the corresponding value in cell F4 is 20. The value returned in cell C3 is 10 30 20.

What's on this page

Question
User Defined Function Syntax
UDF Formula
User defined function - VBA code
Where to put the VBA code?
Excel 2019 Formula
Match each substring to a table - Excel 365
Get the Excel File here

1. Question

Anil asks:
I have
A1(anil singh raj)
It can be anything Like
A1(singh raj anil)
I want return value in
B1 (10 30 20)
Or
B1(30 20 10)
Or
Lookup array is
D1(anil) E1(10)
D2(raj) E2(20)
D3(singh) E3(30)

I have made a small custom function to split the search string and get the values you are looking for.

2. User Defined Function Syntax

SearchValues(str, search_col, return_col)

str - Search string

search_col - lookup column

return_col - values to return

3. UDF Formula

Formula in cell C3:

=SearchValues(B3, $E$3:$E$5, $F$3:$F$5)

4. User Defined Function - VBA

'Name Function
Function SearchValues(str As Range, search_col As Range, return_col As Range)

'Dimension variables and declare data types
Dim j As Long, i As Long

'Split text in variable str based on a space character
arr = Split(str, " ")

'Save the number of rows in range variable search_col to variable j
j = search_col.Rows.CountLarge

'Iterate through all array values in variable arr 
For Each Vl In arr

    'Go from 1 to number stored in variable j
    For i = 1 To j

        'If ... Then statement
        'Check if value in range variable search_col is equal to variable Vl 
        'Concatenate corresponding value in return_col with result variable if true
        If search_col.Cells(i, 1) = Vl Then result = result & return_col.Cells(i, 1) & " "
    Next i
Next Vl

'Return string stored in result to worksheet
SearchValues = result
End Function

5. Where to put the VBA code?

You need to copy the code above and paste it to a code module, detailed instructions below.

Open vb editor (shortcut keys: Alt+F11)
Insert a new module
Paste code to code module
Exit vb Editor

Note, save your workbook as a macro-enabled workbook *.xlsm to keep the code attached to your workbook.

6. Excel 2019 Formula

Array formula in cell C3:

=TEXTJOIN(" ", TRUE, TRANSPOSE(IF(IFERROR(SEARCH(TRANSPOSE(FILTERXML("<A>"& SUBSTITUTE(B3, " ", "") & "</A>", "//B")), $E$3:$E$5), 0), $F$3:$F$5, "")))

6.1 Explaining formula in cell C3

Step 1 - Insert XML tags

The SUBSTITUTE function replaces a specific text string in a value. We need to replace the delimiting character to xml tags in order to split the strings into an array.

SUBSTITUTE(text, old_text, new_text, [instance_num])

"<A>"& SUBSTITUTE(B3, " ", "") & "</A>"

becomes

"<A>"&"anilsinghraj"& "</A>"

and returns

"<A>anilsinghraj</A>"

Step 2 - Split string into substrings

The FILTERXML function extracts specific values from XML content by using the given xpath. You can use this function to split a string into substrings.

FILTERXML("<A>"& SUBSTITUTE(B3, " ", "") & "</A>", "//B")

becomes

FILTERXML("<A>anilsinghraj</A>", "//B")

and returns {"anil";"singh";"raj"}.

Step 3 - Convert a vertical range to a horizontal range, or vice versa

The TRANSPOSE function allows you to convert a vertical range to a horizontal range, or vice versa.

TRANSPOSE(FILTERXML("<A>"& SUBSTITUTE(B3, " ", "") & "</A>", "//B"))

becomes

TRANSPOSE({"anil"; "singh"; "raj"})

and returns {"anil", "singh", "raj"}.

Step 4 - Search for each value in the array in cell range $E$3:$E$5

The SEARCH function returns a number representing the position of character at which a specific text string is found reading left to right.

SEARCH(find_text,within_text, [start_num])

SEARCH(TRANSPOSE(FILTERXML("<A>"& SUBSTITUTE(B3, " ", "") & "</A>", "//B")), $E$3:$E$5)

becomes

SEARCH( {"anil", "singh", "raj"}, $E$3:$E$5)

becomes

SEARCH( {"anil", "singh", "raj"}, {"anil";"raj";"singh"})

and returns {1, #VALUE!, #VALUE!; #VALUE!, #VALUE!, 1; #VALUE!, 1, #VALUE!}.

Step 5 - Replace #VALUE errors with 0 (zero)

The IFERROR function lets you catch most errors in Excel formulas.

IFERROR(value, value_if_error)

IFERROR(SEARCH(TRANSPOSE(FILTERXML("<A>"& SUBSTITUTE(B3, " ", "") & "</A>", "//B")), $E$3:$E$5), 0)

becomes

IFERROR({1, #VALUE!, #VALUE!; #VALUE!, #VALUE!, 1; #VALUE!, 1, #VALUE!}, 0)

and returns {1, 0, 0; 0, 0, 1; 0, 1, 0}.

Step 6 - Return values if TRUE (1)

The IF function returns one value if the logical test is TRUE and another value if the logical test is FALSE.

IF(logical_test, [value_if_true], [value_if_false])

IF(IFERROR(SEARCH(TRANSPOSE(FILTERXML("<A>"& SUBSTITUTE(B3, " ", "") & "</A>", "//B")), $E$3:$E$5), 0), $F$3:$F$5, "")

becomes

IF({1, 0, 0; 0, 0, 1; 0, 1, 0}, $F$3:$F$5, "")

becomes

IF({1, 0, 0; 0, 0, 1; 0, 1, 0}, {10; 20; 30}, "")

and returns {10,"","";"","",20;"",30,""}.

Step 7 - Convert a vertical range to a horizontal range, or vice versa

The TRANSPOSE function allows you to convert a vertical range to a horizontal range, or vice versa.

TRANSPOSE(IF(IFERROR(SEARCH(TRANSPOSE(FILTERXML("<A>"& SUBSTITUTE(B3, " ", "") & "</A>", "//B")), $E$3:$E$5), 0), $F$3:$F$5, ""))

becomes

TRANSPOSE({10,"","";"","",20;"",30,""})

and returns {10,"","";"","",30;"",20,""}.

Step 8 - Concate values in array

The TEXTJOIN function allows you to combine text strings from multiple cell ranges and also use delimiting characters if you want.

TEXTJOIN(" ", TRUE, TRANSPOSE(IF(IFERROR(SEARCH(TRANSPOSE(FILTERXML("<A>"& SUBSTITUTE(B3, " ", "") & "</A>", "//B")), $E$3:$E$5), 0), $F$3:$F$5, "")))

becomes

TEXTJOIN(" ", TRUE, {10,"","";"","",30;"",20,""})

and returns "10 30 20".

7. Lookup each substring in a value and join the result - Excel 365

Lookup each substring in a value and join the result Excel 365

Excel 365 formula in cell C3:

=TEXTJOIN(" ", TRUE, LOOKUP(TEXTSPLIT(B3, " ", , TRUE), $E$3:$E$5, $F$3:$F$5))

Explaining formula

Step 1 - Split value into substrings

The TEXTSPLIT function splits a string into an array based on delimiting values.

Function syntax: TEXTSPLIT(Input_Text, col_delimiter, [row_delimiter], [Ignore_Empty])

TEXTSPLIT(B3, " ", , TRUE)

becomes

TEXTSPLIT("anil singh raj", " ", , TRUE)

and returns {"anil","singh","raj"}.

Step 2 - Match values and return the corresponding values

The LOOKUP function find a value in a cell range and return a corresponding value on the same row.

Function syntax: LOOKUP(lookup_value, lookup_vector, [result_vector])

LOOKUP(TEXTSPLIT(B3, " ", , TRUE), $E$3:$E$5, $F$3:$F$5)

becomes

LOOKUP({"anil","singh","raj"},{"anil";"raj";"singh"},{10;20;30})

and returns {10,30,20}.

Step 3 - Join the corresponding values

The TEXTJOIN function combines text strings from multiple cell ranges.

Function syntax: TEXTJOIN(delimiter, ignore_empty, text1, [text2], ...)

TEXTJOIN(" ", TRUE, LOOKUP(TEXTSPLIT(B3, " ", , TRUE), $E$3:$E$5, $F$3:$F$5))

becomes

TEXTJOIN(" ", TRUE, {10,30,20})

and returns "10 30 20".

Get the Excel file

Split-search-value-using-delimiter-and-search-for-each-string.xlsm

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4 Responses to “Split search value using a delimiter and search for each substring”

Anil says:

May 1, 2017 at 5:17 am

Thanks

for reply my question

it makes me very easy to do my job more simple

but i am facing a problem
if the value is not in lookup array the result is only partial

I have
A1(anil baljeet raj)

and result should be
B1 (10 (error) 20)
Or

Lookup array is
D1(anil) E1(10)
D2(raj) E2(20)
D3(singh) E3(30)

means if the value is not in the lookup array
the result should not skip the value's(not in the lookup array) space

Reply
- Rick Rothstein (MVP - Excel) says:
  
  May 1, 2017 at 7:02 pm
  
  Does the following UDF do what you want? NOTE that I change the argumemtn list from how Oscar setup his UDF... instead of a second argument for the search column and a third argument for the replacement column, I have only a second argument for the search/replace table (assumed to be two contiguous, aligned ranges of cells); so, you would call my UDF like this...
  
  =SearchValues(A1,$D$1:$E$3)
  
  where cell A1 has the text being parsed and range D1:E3 contains the search and replace values. Here is my UDF code...
```
Function SearchValues(ByVal S As String, _
         SearchReplace As Range) As String
  Dim Word As Variant, Rng As Range, HasParen As Boolean
  HasParen = Left(S, 1) = "("
  S = Trim(Replace(Replace(S, "(", ""), ")", ""))
  For Each Word In Split(S)
    Set Rng = SearchReplace.Columns(1).Find( _
              Word, , , xlWhole, , , False)
    If Rng Is Nothing Then
      S = Replace(" " & S & " ", " " & Word & " ", _
                  " (Error) ", , , vbTextCompare)
    Else
      S = Replace(" " & S & " ", " " & Word & " ", _
                  " " & Rng.Offset(, 1).Value & _
                  " ", , , vbTextCompare)
    End If
  Next
  If HasParen Then S = "(" & S & ")"
  SearchValues = Application.Trim(S)
End Function
```
- Oscar says:
  
  May 1, 2017 at 8:40 pm
  
  Rick Rothstein (MVP - Excel),
  
  Thank you for your comment and yes your UDF works fine. Yours is probably faster too using the Range Find method, but is it faster than converting the range to an array and then search with a simple For - Next? Anyway, interesting UDF.
  
  Anil,
  
  If your search and replace table is not contiguous this UDF seems to work also.
```
Function SearchValues(str As Range, search_col As Range, return_col As Range)
Dim j As Long, i As Long
arr = Split(str, " ")
j = search_col.Rows.CountLarge
For Each Vl In arr
    chk = 0
    For i = 1 To j
        If search_col.Cells(i, 1) = Vl Then
            result = result & return_col.Cells(i, 1) & " "
            chk = 1
        End If
    Next i
    If chk = 0 Then result = result & "(Error)" & " "
Next Vl
SearchValues = result
End Function
```
Anil says:

May 7, 2017 at 1:51 pm

Thank you very much oscar

it makes me very easy to do my work

i hope you will be in touch as you can
for our futures problems regarding excel

thanks Again
with regards
Anil

Reply

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