Split one column into several columns
Text to Columns works until the data isn’t perfectly regular: one address has a suite number, another a comma less, and everything shifts one column to the right.
Here a column is split only when its pattern is unambiguous. An address column becomes Street, City, State and ZIP code, and an account path such as Assets:Current Assets:Checking keeps the account name with the full path in its own column. “Last, First” names and one column per account level are offered as one-click splits. Values that don’t fit the pattern stay whole in the first column and are flagged, so nothing lands in the wrong place.
Drop files here
or browse your files
XLSX, XLS, CSV, TXT, PDF · up to 25 MB · 1 file without an account
Or try a sample:
Example: before and after
The Address column became Street, City, State and ZIP code; the ZIP stays text, so leading zeros would survive.
| 1 | Customer | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Jane Cooper | 4517 Washington Ave, Manchester, KY 39495 | (270) 555-0117 |
| 3 | Devon Lane | 2972 Westheimer Rd, Santa Ana, IL 85486 | (217) 555-0113 |
| 4 | Cody Fisher | 8502 Preston Rd, Inglewood, ME 98380 | (207) 555-0119 |
| 5 | Kristin Watson | 3891 Ranchview Dr, Richardson, CA 62639 | (209) 555-0104 |
| Customer | Street | City | State | ZIP code | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jane Cooper | 4517 Washington Ave | Manchester | KY | 39495 | (270) 555-0117 |
| Devon Lane | 2972 Westheimer Rd | Santa Ana | IL | 85486 | (217) 555-0113 |
| Cody Fisher | 8502 Preston Rd | Inglewood | ME | 98380 | (207) 555-0119 |
| Kristin Watson | 3891 Ranchview Dr | Richardson | CA | 62639 | (209) 555-0104 |
How to do it
- 1Drop the file.
- 2Clear splits are applied; others appear as suggestions you can switch on.
- 3Download — every split column keeps a sensible name.
Questions
Which columns are split automatically?
What if some rows don’t match?
Can I split on my own separator?
Related tasks
- Clean an accounting exportTrial balances, P&L and ledgers flattened, with account paths and checked totals.
- Clean a messy CSV fileTitle rows, blank lines, spaces, text amounts and total rows — fixed and checked.
- Merge multi-row headers into one rowTwo- and three-row headers become one row of clear column names.