Automate cell splitting
 

Hello, I would like to know how to accomplish this:

I have a worksheet with single cells (in the A column), each with the same
layout of info inside, separated by semi-colons (they actually originate
from .csv files) I want that info to be separated from each cell into
multiple (I.e. to have info not altogether in column A but in multiple
comumns) automatically, and also, because more similar cells are added
regularly to that A column, I want that process to also update with the
latest added info every time.
For example I have cells like this:

Notes; 0001; "Economics"; "you should..."
Notes; 0002; "Literature"; "Hamlet tried..."
....
Scraps; 0040; "The Three Musketeers"; "Athos picked an..."
....

and I want this:

Category Number Subject Message
Notes 0001 Economics you should...
Notes 0002 Literature Hamlet
....etc....

I tried using combinations of formulas like LEFT, MID and SEARCH, and it
kinda worked for the cells that the formulas were referring to, however I
found no way to have new cells added and updated when I added new similarly
mingled cells. I also tried to select the first 4 columns and copy the
formulas to all cells, but that caused the file to require half an hour to
open, get saved and manipulate in general.....perhaps a macro is the way to
go? but how, I have no knowledge of VBA.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Automate cell splitting
 

Use Text to columns under the Data menu.
Select Delimited, Next.
Change Delimiter to Semicolon, Next.

Regards,
Paul

"Bill G." wrote in message
...
Hello, I would like to know how to accomplish this:

I have a worksheet with single cells (in the A column), each with the same
layout of info inside, separated by semi-colons (they actually originate
from .csv files) I want that info to be separated from each cell into
multiple (I.e. to have info not altogether in column A but in multiple
comumns) automatically, and also, because more similar cells are added
regularly to that A column, I want that process to also update with the
latest added info every time.
For example I have cells like this:

Notes; 0001; "Economics"; "you should..."
Notes; 0002; "Literature"; "Hamlet tried..."
...
Scraps; 0040; "The Three Musketeers"; "Athos picked an..."
...

and I want this:

Category Number Subject Message
Notes 0001 Economics you should...
Notes 0002 Literature Hamlet
...etc....

I tried using combinations of formulas like LEFT, MID and SEARCH, and it
kinda worked for the cells that the formulas were referring to, however I
found no way to have new cells added and updated when I added new
similarly mingled cells. I also tried to select the first 4 columns and
copy the formulas to all cells, but that caused the file to require half
an hour to open, get saved and manipulate in general.....perhaps a macro
is the way to go? but how, I have no knowledge of VBA.

Thanks in advance for your help!