Data, Text to Columns, has commas in the text, plus as a delimeter

[Tonso]

Using XL 2003, I want to import data from another program. I can do so
with the Text to Columns feature, but, the program uses exclamation
points and a comma as a delimeter ( !,! ). An example is below:
!Visit Arizona, Eat Mexican Food!,!1!,!1.000!,!N!,!50!,!50!,!0!,!
2229!,!547!,!188!,!0!,!0!,!0!,!0!,!0!,!0!,!N!

As you can see, commas are sometimes used in the text, plus as a
delimeter. How can I handle this?

Thanks,

Tonso

 

[Dave Peterson]

I would try bringing the data into a single column.

Then select that column and
Edit|Replace
what: !,!
with: !
replace all

You may want to try doing the same thing before you import the data--open the
text file in NotePad (or your favorite text editor and do the equivalent
edit|replace).

ps. If the ! shows up in the text, then I'd change it to a unique/unused
character (maybe the vertical bar |).

 

[Tonso]

I would try bringing the data into a single column.

Then select that column and
Edit|Replace
what:  !,!
with:  !
replace all

You may want to try doing the same thing before you import the data--openthe
text file in NotePad (or your favorite text editor and do the equivalent
edit|replace).

ps.  If the ! shows up in the text, then I'd change it to a unique/unused
character (maybe the vertical bar |).

Thanks Dave! This works great!!

Tonso