How to split a cell at the first number in Excel?
Usually, you can split text string by delimiter or fixed width in Excel. However, have you ever tried to split the string by the first number as below screenshot shown? Here I introduce the tricks on splitting a cell at the first number of a string in Excel.
Split cell at the first number with formulas
Split cell at the first number with Word and Text to Columns
Split cell at the first number with formulas
To split cells at the first number, you need formulas in Excel.
1. Select a cell that you will output the text part in, for instance B1, type this formula =TRIM(LEFT(A1,MIN(FIND({0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9},A1&"0123456789"))-1)), drag auto fill handle down to extract the text part from the strings. See screenshot:
2. Select a cell to output the number part, for instance, C1, type this formula, =TRIM(REPLACE(A1,1,LEN(B1),"")), and then drag the auto fill handle down to extract the number part from the strings. See screenshot:
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Split cell at the first number with Word and Text to Columns
If the strings are mixed with numbers in the first part and texts in the second part as below screenshot shown, you need to use the Find and Replace utility in Word then apply the Text to Columns utility in Excel.
1. Copy the strings and paste in a Word document, and press Ctrl + H keys to enable the Find and Replace dialog.
2. In the Find and Replace dialog, type ([0-9]{1,}) into the Find what text box, type \1, into the Replace with dialog, click More to expand the dialog, and check Use wildcards. See screenshot:
3. Click Replace All, and then click Yes > OK in the popping out dialogs. See screenshots:
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Now a comma has been added after every number string. See screenshot:
4. Copy the strings and paste back to Excel sheet, and click Data > Text to Columns. See screenshot:
5. In the Text to Columns dialog, check Delimited, click Next, and then check Comma in Delimiters section. See screenshot:
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6. Click Next, select a cell to output the result and click Finish. See screenshot:
Now the strings have been split by the first text.
Note: this method also works while the first part is text, and you only need to type ,\1 into the Replace with text box. See screenshot:
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