Split text across columns
The "Text to columns" feature in excel lets you split multiple values in a single cell using a delimiting character, across columns.
Where is this button?
- Go to tab "Data" on the ribbon
- Click "Text to columns" button
What happens if we record a macro while performing this action? This is what the macro recorder returns:
Sub Macro1()
Selection.TextToColumns Destination:=Range("A1"), DataType:=xlDelimited, _
TextQualifier:=xlDoubleQuote, ConsecutiveDelimiter:=False, Tab:=False, _
Semicolon:=False, Comma:=True, Space:=False, Other:=False, FieldInfo _
:=Array(Array(1, 1), Array(2, 1), Array(3, 1)), TrailingMinusNumbers:=True
End Sub
The TextToColumns method and its parameters is explained here: Range.TextToColumns Method (Excel)
You an use the TextToColumns method in a macro but what about a user defined function? Unfortunately, you canยดt use this method in a function. Donยดt give up, it is easy to build a basic udf that splits values across columns.
Function SplitValues(a As String, b As String) Dim Text() As String Text = Split(b, a) SplitValues = Text End Function
How to use it
- Select cell range C1:E1
- Type =SplitValues(",",A1) in the formula bar
- Press and hold CTRL + SHIFT
- Press Enter
If you did this right, the formula has now a leading { and an ending }, like this {=SplitValues(",",A1)}. They appear automatically, donยดt type them.
Build a user defined function
To build a user defined function, follow these steps:
- Press Alt + F11 to open the visual basic editor
- Click "Insert" on the menu
-
Click "Module"
- Copy the code above and paste it to the code module.
Explaining the user defined function
Function name and arguments
A user defined function procedure always start with "Function" and then a name. This udf has two arguments, a and b. Both a and b are strings.
Function SplitValues(a As String, b As String)
Declaring variables
Dim Text() As String
Text() is a dynamic string array. Read more about Defining data types.
Split function
Text = Split(b, a)
The Split function accepts a text string and returns a zero-based, one-dimensional array containing all sub strings. Split allows you also to specify a delimiting character, default is the space character. The substrings are stored as multiple strings in Text array.
The udf returns the substrings in Text
SplitValues = Text
End a udf
End function
A function procedure ends with the "End function" statement.
Recommended reading
- Count the number of cells within a range that match multiple comma separated values
- Excel udf: Lookup and return multiple values concatenated into one cell
- Excel udf: Filter common values between two cell ranges in excel
Download excel *.xlsm file
Split text across columns.xlsm
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6 Responses to โSplit text across columnsโ
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Hi Oscar,
To avoid array formula,and use Text to columns, can be used:
Sub Splitcell()
[A1].TextToColumns [A1].Offset(, 2), xlDelimited, , , 0, 0, 1, 0, 0
End sub
PS
Your site is excellent. One of the best of the best.
Ingolf
Ingolf,
thank you!
Two points about your SplitValues UDF...
First, when the Split function will be called only once during a procedure, there is no need to assign the output from the Split function to an intermediary dynamic array in order to work with its output (doing so similar to selecting a range and then woring with the Selection object instead of the range itself); rather, you can work directly with the Spiit function itself...
Second, the way you have implemented your function, you need to know, in advance, how many substrings the 'b' argument will split into so that you can select exactly that amount of cells to array-enter your formula in, otherwise, any excess selected cells will display the #N/A error which, of course, looks kind of ugly but would be necessary if the text passed into the 'b' argument could vary in the number of delimiters over time. We can eliminate the #N/A errors for any excess selected cells fairly easily using the Application.Caller object like so...
Rick Rothstein (MVP - Excel),
Interesting comment, as always.
Your second point was new to me.
[quote]
Second, the way you have implemented your function, you need to know, in advance, how many substrings the 'b' argument will split into so that you can select exactly that amount of cells to array-enter your formula in, otherwise, any excess selected cells will display the #N/A error which, of course, looks kind of ugly but would be necessary if the text passed into the 'b' argument could vary in the number of delimiters over time.
[/quote]
Not too sure..
Sub SplitCell()
With Range("A1", Cells(Rows.Count, "A").End(xlUp))
.TextToColumns .Offset(, 2), xlDelimited, , , 0, 0, 1, 0, 0
End With
End Sub
I was referring to problems associated with implementing the UDF in my previous posting... macros (like what you posted) are completely different than UDFs and do not have the same (or virtually any such) restrictions. As for determining the vertical extent of the cells to apply the Text-To-Columns method to... that is not necessary as Text-To-Columns will only work on cells with data, so applying it to the entire column will work the same as restricting it to your calculated range...
Columns("A").TextToColumns .Offset(, 2), xlDelimited, , , 0, 0, 1, 0, 0