Hi Pauline,

In other words, if a row contains data that will spread across 356
columns,
when I parse it, first 256 columns will be in sheet 1 and the rest
156 will
be in sheet 2.

No build in function of excel will help you here. Read the file with a
macro.

Look in VBA-Help for "Input #", this will fill 356 variables for you,
you write them then in sheet1 and sheet2 as you like. Maybe this works
for you, I am not sure. Field delimiters could be a problem if it is
not a comma ",".

Otherwise use "Line Input" and parse through the text and search for
the field delimiter on your own.

arno