Excel and other spreadsheet applications empower users to use a wide array of functions and formulas. The concatenate function is one such function that is used to merge multiple cells into a single cell. However, often a need arises for a function that can dissect the cell values into separate objects. The article aims to highlight functions that are opposite to the concatenate in Excel. These functions are important for improving your efficiency while working on spreadsheets.
How to do the opposite of "connect" in Excel:
There are several methods of doing the opposite of concatenate function in Excel. The following methods are the most useful and easy ones:
Method 1: Using Text Functions:
The Text functions of Excel are a well-known method of splitting the values of cell into multiple cells. Using the LEFT, RIGHT, and MID functions in Excel allows you to perform the opposite of the CONCATENATE function. Following is the step-by-step guide to using Excel Text functions for this purpose:
Step 1: Open the Excel spreadsheet on which you want to do the opposite of CONCATENATE function
Step 2: Select the cell where you want to apply the formula
Step 3: Determine the number of characters that you want to split from the selected cell
Step 4: Enter the syntax of the formula that you want to use
=Left(B2, 3) or =Right(B2, 4) or =Mid(B2, 3, 4)
Step 5: Press enter to apply the formula
Method 2: How to use text-to-columns opposite of concatenate in Excel:
Step 1: Select the cells that you want to split.
Step 2: Click Data tab and click on Text to Columns
Step 3: In the Convert Text to Columns Wizard, select the Delimited option
Step 4: Then click the Next button, and specify the separator that you want to use under the Delimiters option
Step 5: Click the Next button, and check General under the Column data format
Step 6: Then, click the Finish button; the selected cell values have been split into multiple columns
Method 3: How to reverse connect by the formula in Excel?
Step 1: Open the Excel sheet where you want to split the cell values
Step 2: Select the cell where you want to apply the formula
Step3: Enter fomula with syntax =TRIM(MID(SUBSTITUTE($A2,",",REPT(" ",5)),COLUMNS($A:A)*5+1,6))
Step 4: Press Enter, and the cell values will be separated
Step 5: Expand the formula to other cells
Method 4: How to quickly fill in reverse connections in Excel?
Step 1: Open the Excel sheet where you want to split the cell values
Step 2: Manually fill in the requirement for the first row
Step 3: Go to the Data tab and select Click on the Fill button
Step 4: Under the fill button menu, select flash fill.
Step 5: The command will automatically fill the data in the rest of the sheet
Comparison of four Methods of Reverse Connection in Excel?
All these methods are powerful tools for manipulating and separating values from a single cell into multiple cells in Excel. The functions can be compared based on their usage and benefits in the following table:
Features | Text Functions | Text to Column | Formula | Flash Fill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dynamic? | Yes | Need to perform it again to get the results | Yes | Need to perform it again to get the results |
Always returns Result? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Replace source data? | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Speed? | Needs some time to determine characters and add syntax | Quick | Takes some time to type formulas as syntax is long | Super Quick |
How to Use Microsoft Excel for free in WPS Office:
WPS Office is a complete office suite that offers the complete functionality of Excel in the form of spreadsheets. All the methods mentioned above and formulas are applicable in the spreadsheet of WPS. One of the key advantages of WPS Office is that it allows users to access and use Spreadsheets without the need for registration or any subscription fees. Another benefit of using WPS Office is its user-friendly interface, making it easy for both beginners and experienced users to operate the software efficiently. Despite being free, WPS Office offers a comprehensive set of features providing access to various formulas, functions, formatting options, charts, and data analysis tools.
How to Edit Microsoft Excel in WPS Office:
Editing Microsoft Excel files in WPS Office is a straightforward process due to its high compatibility with Microsoft Office formats. WPS Office is fully compatible with Microsoft Excel files, including .xls, .xlsx, .xlsm, .xlt, and .csv file formats. After opening the Excel file in WPS Spreadsheets, you can now edit the content as needed. WPS Spreadsheets offer a wide range of features, such as formulas, functions, formatting options, charts, and data analysis tools, like all the features in Microsoft Excel.
FAQs
1. How do I separate first and last name in Excel?
The first and last name in Excel can be separated using the Text to Columns option and using a formula. These two functions enable you to split the values of a cell based on your specific criteria. The step-by-step processes have been explained above.
2. How do I combine if and concatenate in Excel?
Combining the IF function with CONCATENATE in Excel allows you to conditionally concatenate and combine values based on certain criteria. This can be useful when you want to combine different text or data based on specific conditions. The syntax of IF and CONCATENATE function together is following:
=IF(CONCATENATE(A1"", B1""), A1 & " " & B1, "")
3. How do I separate the first and last name in two columns in Excel?
The quickest way to separate the first and last name in two columns in Excel is through the Text to Column function. The function allows you to split the entries in a cell based on different separator types. For example, you can just split the first name and second name by selecting the separator of space.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the article explains how to use the opposite of "concatenate" in Excel to separate data in multiple cells from a single cell. The article provides a step-by-step guide on four different methods to do the opposite of concatenate function. By understanding and using these functions, you can efficiently split cell values into multiple cells based on different criteria and patterns within the data. The article also highlights the high compatibility, versatile spreadsheet features, and user-friendly interface of WPS Office. You can easily download and use WPS Office by clicking on the link https://www.wps.com/.
