Having imported text data from a notepad file into excel as a column (A1:A5)
I had the word "eating" in A1 cell.

Using the formula =IF(A1="eating",TRUE,FALSE) in B1 gave FALSE
Also =IF(A1="eating ",TRUE,FALSE) in B1 gave
FALSE (note the extra blank after the ing )

However typing eating into cell A1 gives TRUE

Using =MID(A1,7,1) returns a blank cell which has character code
value of 160 (ASCII decimal) and from the INSERT/SYMBOLS Tabe it says it is a
"NO_BREAK SPACE"

How do I find all such possible occurences in my data since it can "ruin"
and confuse expected search results?

David McRitchie has a macro that cleans up this kind of stuff:

http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/join.htm#trimall
(look for "Sub Trimall()")

If you're new to macros, you may want to read David McRitchie's intro at:
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/getstarted.htm



Joe wrote:

Having imported text data from a notepad file into excel as a column (A1:A5)
I had the word "eating" in A1 cell.

Using the formula =IF(A1="eating",TRUE,FALSE) in B1 gave FALSE
Also =IF(A1="eating ",TRUE,FALSE) in B1 gave
FALSE (note the extra blank after the ing )

However typing eating into cell A1 gives TRUE

Using =MID(A1,7,1) returns a blank cell which has character code
value of 160 (ASCII decimal) and from the INSERT/SYMBOLS Tabe it says it is a
"NO_BREAK SPACE"

How do I find all such possible occurences in my data since it can "ruin"
and confuse expected search results?

--

Dave Peterson

You can remove them entering this function in a spare column:
=SUBSTITUTE(A1,CHAR(160),"")
filled down as required.

Regards,
Stefi


€žJoe€� ezt Ã*rta:

Having imported text data from a notepad file into excel as a column (A1:A5)
I had the word "eating" in A1 cell.

Using the formula =IF(A1="eating",TRUE,FALSE) in B1 gave FALSE
Also =IF(A1="eating ",TRUE,FALSE) in B1 gave
FALSE (note the extra blank after the ing )

However typing eating into cell A1 gives TRUE

Using =MID(A1,7,1) returns a blank cell which has character code
value of 160 (ASCII decimal) and from the INSERT/SYMBOLS Tabe it says it is a
"NO_BREAK SPACE"

How do I find all such possible occurences in my data since it can "ruin"
and confuse expected search results?

Thanks for that solution it works.

"Stefi" wrote:

You can remove them entering this function in a spare column:
=SUBSTITUTE(A1,CHAR(160),"")
filled down as required.

Regards,
Stefi


€žJoe€� ezt Ã*rta:

Having imported text data from a notepad file into excel as a column (A1:A5)
I had the word "eating" in A1 cell.

Using the formula =IF(A1="eating",TRUE,FALSE) in B1 gave FALSE
Also =IF(A1="eating ",TRUE,FALSE) in B1 gave
FALSE (note the extra blank after the ing )

However typing eating into cell A1 gives TRUE

Using =MID(A1,7,1) returns a blank cell which has character code
value of 160 (ASCII decimal) and from the INSERT/SYMBOLS Tabe it says it is a
"NO_BREAK SPACE"

How do I find all such possible occurences in my data since it can "ruin"
and confuse expected search results?

You are welcome! Thanks for the feedback!
Stefi


€žJoe€� ezt Ã*rta:

Thanks for that solution it works.

"Stefi" wrote:

You can remove them entering this function in a spare column:
=SUBSTITUTE(A1,CHAR(160),"")
filled down as required.

Regards,
Stefi


€žJoe€� ezt Ã*rta:

Having imported text data from a notepad file into excel as a column (A1:A5)
I had the word "eating" in A1 cell.

Using the formula =IF(A1="eating",TRUE,FALSE) in B1 gave FALSE
Also =IF(A1="eating ",TRUE,FALSE) in B1 gave
FALSE (note the extra blank after the ing )

However typing eating into cell A1 gives TRUE

Using =MID(A1,7,1) returns a blank cell which has character code
value of 160 (ASCII decimal) and from the INSERT/SYMBOLS Tabe it says it is a
"NO_BREAK SPACE"

How do I find all such possible occurences in my data since it can "ruin"
and confuse expected search results?