How to delete first name from a last name column

P

Peo Sjoblom

One way,

first make a copy of the sheet, then data>text to columns, delimited, click
next and select comma as delimiter, click next, select the right side and
check do not import (skip)
 
P

PeterM

I have 386 customers in a spreadsheet, that for some reason show last
name and first name in the same column (column A) Column B shows the
first name again. In the first column A the last name and first name is
separated by a comma. How can I delete the first name and middle initial
in the first column A. Is there a way I can say, delete all after the
comma in column A? Actually, what I really like to do, is to use all my
name and address list, for a mailing. I may be able to use the
information the way it is, with last name first, then a comma, and then
the first name and middle initial in the first column. I just don't know
how. That is why I thought I need to get rid of the first name and
initial, in the first column and use the second column for the first
name. In a mail merge. Is there a program I can buy that would do this
mail merge grabbing information from a spreadsheet for me? I'm using Win
XP and Office XP Pro
 
E

Earl Kiosterud

Peter,

You should check that there isn't a formula in column B that's getting the
first name from column A.
 
P

Peo Sjoblom

Good point..

--

Regards,

Peo Sjoblom

Earl Kiosterud said:
Peter,

You should check that there isn't a formula in column B that's getting the
first name from column A.
Click to expand...
 
P

Peo Sjoblom

Peter,
just make sure there are no formula links to the first column, select the
first name column,
copy it and do edit>paste special as values if there are formulas or else
the first names will be gone.
 
D

Don Guillett

I did test before I sent. Just re-tested with a failure. Try again later, I
guess.
 
P

PeterM

Hello Don, could you please check the URL, I keep getting a "The page
cannot be displayed" message. Many thanks for your help
 
P

PeterM

Thanks for the tip, I hope I can execute the command as swell as you
wrote them...........Peter
 
P

PeterM

Hello Earl, I hope I'm doing this right, I have one of my senior moments
again. I can't remember anything, but I clicked on the cell in B, but I
didn't see anything like a formula (the area where it suppose to show,
can't even remember that name) it just showed the first name.....Peter
 
P

PeterM

Hello Peo again.......It looked all so easy, but the art was in your
good clear instruction. Usually I screw it up. So, what that means, is
that when I will figure out how to do a mail merge, or make labels from
the names, the first name and middle initial from column A will not
import. Did I get it, or am I still in the clouds?
 
P

PeterM

Thanks again for that tip, I have never done anything like that, but
just to let you know, the names did not disappear..............Peter
 
E

Earl Kiosterud

Peter,

If you select one of the cells in column B and look in the formula bar,
you'll see a formula, or you'll just see the first name. If you don't have
a formula bar, use View - Formula bar. Or you can put the cell into Edit
Mode (F2 or double-click it).
 
Top