Functions are a powerful tool for organizing and managing your data according to your preferences. A handy technique within this field is quoting strings of your data, allowing for the execution of formulas. This becomes particularly valuable when it comes to extracting substrings—selecting specific portions of your data for use in your formulas or functions. In this comprehensive guide, we will guide you through the process of extracting Google Sheets substring, ensuring you make the most out of your data manipulation journey.
How to Extract Substrings in Google Sheet
When working with spreadsheets, the need to clean and extract data arises frequently. Google Sheets offers several functions that significantly streamline the process of extracting substrings from strings that our Google Sheet contains. If you are contemplating extracting substrings after a specific character in Google Sheets, the following steps and functions can be utilized to enhance efficiency.
Let's consider a sample string in our Google Sheet: "Ways are provided by Google Sheets to extract substrings from your data, and we will be learning how to extract substring in Google Sheets." See how substring extraction can be used in real-world scenarios! This example will showcase its versatility.
LEFT Function:
To begin, we'll extract the initial part of the string using the Left function, a tool designed to simplify this process.
Step 1: Click on an empty cell and enter the Left function. Start by inserting the equal sign, then type "Left", and press the Tab key to activate the function.
Step 2: In the Left function, two arguments are required. The first argument is the cell containing the main string; simply click on the cell.
Step 3: The second argument is the number of characters you wish to extract from the left. For instance, if you want to extract "Ways", which consists of 4 characters, insert the number 4 and press Enter.
Step 4: As a result, you will observe that we have successfully extracted the desired substring from the main string.
MID Function:
Now, let's explore the MID function, which facilitates the extraction of substrings from the middle of a given string. This function requires three arguments, and here's how you can effectively employ it:
Step 1: Begin by selecting an empty cell. Similar to the Left function, enter the MID function by starting with the equal sign and typing "MID", then press the Tab key.
Step 2: For the first argument, click on the cell containing the string from which you wish to extract characters.
Step 3: In the second argument, specify the starting position from where you want to extract characters. In our example, we aim to extract " to extract substrings", which starts at the 35th position in the string.
Step 4: The final argument is the number of characters to extract after the specified position. In our case, this substring consists of 22 characters. Insert this value and press Enter to obtain the desired results.
RIGHT Function:
The RIGHT function in Google Sheets closely resembles the LEFT function, with the primary distinction being its ability to extract strings from the end. We will employ this function to finalize our sentence extraction.
Step 1: Begin by selecting another empty cell. The only requirement for using this function is an empty cell. Click on it and enter the RIGHT function.
Step 2: For the first argument, designate the cell containing the main string.
Step 3: The second argument specifies the number of characters to extract from the end. After entering this value, simply press Enter to generate the desired results.
Example of Data Cleaning Through Data Extraction Technique:
In this instance, we employed the LEFT function to enhance data cleanliness by extracting the first three characters of each country. This approach is a common data processing technique that facilitates a more focused and refined analysis of specific information within the dataset.
Tips for Substrings in Google Sheets
Combining Strings: To consolidate multiple strings, employ the Ampersand symbol (&). In an empty cell, select the desired cells and use the ampersand symbol to concatenate the strings seamlessly.
Utilizing Google Sheets Suggestions: When determining the number of characters to extract, leverage Google Sheets suggestions. As you insert characters, Google Sheets provides prompts, aiding users in refining the extraction process by suggesting potential characters to extract.
Using LEFT and RIGHT with FIND or SEARCH: If you're aware of the general format of the string but not the exact position, you can seamlessly extract substrings by combining LEFT and RIGHT functions with either FIND or SEARCH. These functions enable you to locate a specific character, word, or phrase within a string, allowing for precise extraction relative to the identified element. This approach is particularly useful when dealing with strings of varying lengths and structures.
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FAQs
Q1. How do you split a substring in Google Sheets?
You can split a substring in Google Sheets using the SPLIT formula. The typical syntax of the SPLIT function is as follows;
=SPLIT(text, delimiter, [split_by_each], [remove_empty_text])
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use the SPLIT formula to split text in Google Sheets:
Step 1: To start using the SPLIT formula in Google Sheets, either type =SPLIT( or follow these steps: locate the "Insert" tab (or "Functions" icon), click on "Function", choose "TEXT", and then select "SPLIT".
Step 2: Select the text you intend to separate.
Step 3: Input the value (e.g., a specific letter or sign) as the "Delimiter" (a separator), and decide if you want it to work separately for each part or collectively for all parts by typing "TRUE" or "FALSE".
Step 4: Decide whether to eliminate empty cells from the split results by typing “TRUE” or “FALSE”.
Step 5: Press the "Enter" key to complete the process.
Q2. How do you check if a string contains a substring in Google sheet?
To check if a string contains a substring in Google Sheets using the IF+SEARCH combination, follow this syntax:
=IFERROR(IF(SEARCH(string, range), value_if_true), value_if_false)
In this syntax:
string refers to the specific string or number we aim to locate within the cell.
range denotes the cell reference where the search is conducted.
value_if_true represents the output if the string is found, enclosed in double quotes.
value_if_false signifies the outcome if the string is not found, enclosed in double quotes.
We utilize the IFERROR function to handle potential errors that may arise if the SEARCH function does not detect the specified string within the chosen range.
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Extracting substrings proves to be a time-saving method, sparing you from quoting values individually in an Excel sheet. Working with Google Sheets substring is notably easier and performs exceptionally well, particularly with large datasets. Consider WPS Office as a noteworthy alternative to Google Sheets. Its lightweight design and offline capabilities make it a robust office suite. Download WPS Office today to experience seamless data handling and enhanced productivity.
