How to use Replace function to replace and add string in Excel?

In Excel, we may use the Find and Replace function to find a string then replace with another one. But in many cases, the Find and Replace function cannot satisfy your request. Here I introduce how to use the Replace function to solve some problems in Excel.

Replace function

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Replace function

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=REPLACE(text, start_num, num_chars, new_text)

Case 1 Replace character string in the specific location with other in a string

=REPLACE(text, startnum, numchars, newtext)

If you want to replace a character string in a specific location with another string as below screenshot shown,

you can do as this:

Select a cell which you will place the result and type=REPLACE(A1,3,3,"KTE"), and drag fill handle over the cells you use. See screenshot shown.

Case 2 Replace multiple character strings in multiple locations with others in a string

=REPLACE(REPLACE(text,stratnum,characternumber,"newtext"),startnum,characternumber,"newtext)

If you want to replace multiple character strings in locations with other strings as below screenshot shown,

Do as this:

Select a cell which you will place the result and type =REPLACE(REPLACE(A7,7,1,"1"),15,1,"3"), drag fill handle over the cells you use. See screenshot shown.

Case 3 Replace year/mont/day in Date format

=REPLACE(TEXT(text, "dd-mmm-yy"), 4, 3, "newtext")

If you have a range of cells in the special date format 1-Oct-18, what you need is to replace the month to Nov as below screenshot shown,

Use this formula

Select a cell which you will place the result and type =REPLACE(TEXT(A14, "dd-mmm-yy"), 4, 3, "Nov"), drag fill handle over the cells you use. See screenshot shown.

Case 4 Convert number to date

=DATEVALUE(REPLACE(REPLACE(text,3,0,"/"),6,0,"/"))

If you want to convert text number to standard dates as below screenshot shown, do as this:

Select a cell which you will place the result and type =DATEVALUE(REPLACE(REPLACE(A21,3,0,"/"),6,0,"/")), drag fill handle over the cells you use, the format the cells as Short Date format. See screenshot shown.

Case 5 Replace character string with other in the string

=REPLACE(textreference, FIND("oldtext",textreference), numbercharacter, "newtext")

If you want to replace a string with another in the string as below screenshot shown,

Just use the Replace function and Find function

Select a cell which you place the result and type =REPLACE(A28, FIND("@abc",A28), 4, "@bca"), drag fill handle over the cells you use. See screenshot shown.

Tip: This formula only work for the first occurrence of string.

Case 6 Add new character into specific location of the string

=REPLACE(REPLACE(text,startnumber,0,"newtext"),startnumber,0,"newtext")

If you want to add new character into specific locations of a string as below screenshot shown.

Just do as this

Select a cell which you will place the result and type =REPLACE(REPLACE(A34,4,0,"-"),8,0,"-"), drag fill handle over the cells you use. See screenshot shown.

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