Help with very repetitive task in excel...is there an answer?

[Tim Smith]

Hi all,

Ok, here's the challenge...

I've got a csv database of text to upload (sql) to my website database. This
database contains all of the information on books that I sell (approx. 1700)
the only problem is, is that I've got two columns of the same text (book
descriptions) that needs to be amended / revised to be the same. That's the
long and relatively easier part of the job.

Column A - Has the text description of the book ie. "Instructions & colour
photos for a variety of socks for all the family".

I want to amend this text and then copy and place in Column B - the trick
is, column B has my html code ie. AUTHOR: 
KNITTING<br>EDITION:&nbsp;Hardcover<br>ISBN:&nbsp;1930500084<br>PAGES:&nbsp;
96<br>SIZE:&nbsp;140mm x 180mm<br><br><br>Instructions & colour photos for a
variety of socks for all the family.

As you can see, the text I want to replace (with what I've amended in column
A) is at the end of this html code. So, short of copying and pasting nearly
2000 lines of text, is there something I can use / do that will copy text
from column A and replace / paste at the end of the code in Column B at a
specific point (ie. after the third <br> point.

This may look a bit weird, but the company I obtained the database from
supplied it on a - what you see is what you get basis, in other words, if I
want to use it, I've gotta fix it myself.

I hope that explains - here's hoping someone can assist!

Tim.

 

[Ken Wright]

Assuming your data is in Cols A and B as stated, then in C1 put the following
and then copy down

=LEFT(B1,FIND("<br><br><br>",B1)+11)&A1

Now edit the text as required in Col A and this will be reflected in Col C.
When done, simply copy Column C and then paste special as values.

Note, this assumes that in each line of html, you have only one section with 3
<br>s and that that section is immediately prior to the text.

The other option is simply to do an Edit / replace on <br><br><br>* which
will delete all text at the end of every statement. Then you can just use a
simple concatenate in C1, eg =A1&B1, again copying and paste special as values
when done.

 

[Ken Wright]

Correction on last statement

simple concatenate in C1, eg =A1&B1

replace with

simple concatenate in C1, eg =B1&"<br><br><br>"&A1

 

[Tim Smith]

Hi Ken

You are a legend!! This worked really well, and saved me many, MANY
hours of labour.

Thankyou very much for your help on this,

Tim

 

[Ken Wright]

hehehehe - You can come again

Seriously though, you're welcome and appreciate the feedback. Remember though -
Anytime you are going to edit or blow away data - Backup Backup Backup!!!!!!