Hi - need help again... I have a large worksheet with a column for first
name and a column for last name. Within the column for first name, some of
the names include a middle initial or middle name. I need to remove all but
just the first name - there are over 3000 names and I don't have time to
manually do this task. Is there a way to block the whole column and have
excel remove anything after the space following the first name?

Thanks!
--
Cali Gal
Native of Sacramento

make a helper column with this formula
=LEFT(A1,FIND(" ",A1)-1)

"GirlFridayCA" wrote:

Hi - need help again... I have a large worksheet with a column for first
name and a column for last name. Within the column for first name, some of
the names include a middle initial or middle name. I need to remove all but
just the first name - there are over 3000 names and I don't have time to
manually do this task. Is there a way to block the whole column and have
excel remove anything after the space following the first name?

Thanks!
--
Cali Gal
Native of Sacramento

I'm not sure what you mean - can you explain in more detail? Thanks,
--
Cali Gal
Native of Sacramento


"dlw" wrote:

make a helper column with this formula
=LEFT(A1,FIND(" ",A1)-1)

"GirlFridayCA" wrote:

Hi - need help again... I have a large worksheet with a column for first
name and a column for last name. Within the column for first name, some of
the names include a middle initial or middle name. I need to remove all but
just the first name - there are over 3000 names and I don't have time to
manually do this task. Is there a way to block the whole column and have
excel remove anything after the space following the first name?

Thanks!
--
Cali Gal
Native of Sacramento

Hi,

With this suggestion, dlw is suggesting that you enter the formula in a
blank column on the same row as the first name and copy it down. The formula
finds the first space (right after the first name) and takes all the
characters to the Left of that space and displayes them.

You would then copy all the formulas and choose Edit, Paste Special, Values.
And then replace the original names with these.

If this helps, please click the Yes button

Cheers,
Shane Devenshire

"GirlFridayCA" wrote:

I'm not sure what you mean - can you explain in more detail? Thanks,
--
Cali Gal
Native of Sacramento


"dlw" wrote:

make a helper column with this formula
=LEFT(A1,FIND(" ",A1)-1)

"GirlFridayCA" wrote:

Hi - need help again... I have a large worksheet with a column for first
name and a column for last name. Within the column for first name, some of
the names include a middle initial or middle name. I need to remove all but
just the first name - there are over 3000 names and I don't have time to
manually do this task. Is there a way to block the whole column and have
excel remove anything after the space following the first name?

Thanks!
--
Cali Gal
Native of Sacramento

Col A has first name & as well as some initials

Col B has last name

in Col C put this formula and drag it down

=IF(ISERROR(FIND(" ",A1)),A1,LEFT(A1,FIND(" ",A7)-1))

u well get only first name excluding the initials


On Dec 4, 12:26*am, GirlFridayCA
wrote:
Hi - need help again... *I have a large worksheet with a column for first
name and a column for last name. *Within the column for first name, some of
the names include a middle initial or middle name. *I need to remove all but
just the first name - there are over 3000 names and I don't have time to
manually do this task. *Is there a way to block the whole column and have
excel remove anything after the space following the first name?

Thanks!
--
Cali Gal
Native of Sacramento

Hi,

Select the column and choose Data, Text to Columns, Delimited, click Next
and indicate Space, click Next and highlight all columns in the Preview pane
which you don't want and click Skip (do not import).

If this helps, please click the Yes button.

Cheers,
Shane Devenshire

"GirlFridayCA" wrote:

Hi - need help again... I have a large worksheet with a column for first
name and a column for last name. Within the column for first name, some of
the names include a middle initial or middle name. I need to remove all but
just the first name - there are over 3000 names and I don't have time to
manually do this task. Is there a way to block the whole column and have
excel remove anything after the space following the first name?

Thanks!
--
Cali Gal
Native of Sacramento

Select the cells with firstname initial/name

EditReplace

What: <space*

With: nothing

Replace all.

Assumes there is a space, of course.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

On Wed, 3 Dec 2008 11:26:37 -0800, GirlFridayCA
wrote:

Hi - need help again... I have a large worksheet with a column for first
name and a column for last name. Within the column for first name, some of
the names include a middle initial or middle name. I need to remove all but
just the first name - there are over 3000 names and I don't have time to
manually do this task. Is there a way to block the whole column and have
excel remove anything after the space following the first name?

Thanks!