Is this possible?

B

britgirl

Hi there,

I have created a database of names & addresses from a software progra
called "CLIP" into excel, which in turn will become a label mail merg
in MS word consisting of 900-1000 customers (for a mass mailing).

The problem is, the names were created last, first and I would like t
change them to first last. Is there a way to do that without manuall
typing them all in again?

The names are in one column, so I cannot just switch the column
around.

Thanks for your help..
 
G

Guest

Hi

Try Data/Text to columns. This should be able to split the names into
separate cells for you.
An alternative is to use something like this:
=MID(A2,FIND(" ",A2)+1,LEN(A2)-FIND(" ",A2))&" "&LEFT(A2,FIND(" ",A2)-1)
This will find the first <space> in A2 and assume that it is the split
between the names. If you have middle names, or Mr or Mrs, it will be more
difficult than this, though.

Andy.
 
D

Duke Carey

You can insert a column to the right of the names and then select just the
cells with the names and use Data->Text to Columns and let Excel parse the
names on the comma. You'll end up with the last names in the original column
& the first names in the new column.

BE SURE TO WORK ON A COPY OF YOUR DATA
 
B

britgirl

Your fomula works like a champ Andy, thanks.

There are a few that were already first last, like a company, but I ca
go through an sort those by hand.

Thanks again
 
R

ragtopcaddy

This has nothing to do with your post, but I am having some difficult
here.

When I try to email "contact us" I get an error msg, probably due to m
configuration issues here at my client site, saying that my email clien
is not properly installed. I can't do anything about it, so I can't eve
ask the forum watchdogs my question.

That brings me to my initial question: How do I post a new thread?!
There is no visible link on the webpage saying "Post New Thread" o
anything like that. When I went to FAQs and asked "Post a new thread"
"Create a new thread", "Post a new msg", etc. (every phrasing I coul
think of), I still got no answer.

Thanks,

Bil
 
B

Bernie Deitrick

Bill,

Use a newsreader program, such as Outlook Express, and connect directly to the groups at

msnews.microsoft.com

The web interfaces aren't really needed.

HTH,
Bernie
MS Excel MVP
 
D

Duke Carey

The web interfaces aren't really needed.

Bernie -
They are if your corporate firewall prohibits the use of newreaders.
 
R

ragtopcaddy

Thanks for the suggestion, but I do not have admin rights to my PC her
at the client site, so I can't install Outlook Express (or anythin
else for that matter... I'm really missing Firefox these days!)

I suppose the larger question is why a "Post New Thread" button or lin
is apparently ommitted from a website whose sole reason for existence i
to post new threads, and why, judging by the content of the FAQ, I a
the only person ever to have had this difficulty?

Bil
 
D

Duke Carey

I'm using IE6. In my browser, at the top of the thread list is a small bar
with the Icons/Words

New/Reply/Show

If I click on New I see the option to create a new post
 
R

ragtopcaddy

Forgive my apparent density :) , but I'm an access programmer used t
the AccessMonster site where there is a link always available fo
posting new threads.

Am I to understand then, that there is no ability to start a new threa
while looking at an existing post? (I'm trying to reassure myself tha
this is a reality of the site design and not a deficiency in m
browser.)

This is mildly inconvenient in that one frequently desires to post
thread after/while viewing threads returned by a fruitless search.
suppose we're all getting lazy in this day and age, but not having t
return to the forums page (I haven't checked this out yet) or som
other page would be 1 less operation.

Given that the purpose of the site is to post new threads, it woul
seem that a link or button to do so should appear prominently on ever
page. I can't imagine what the downside to that would be.

I posted here once or twice in the past and had the same problem. I ha
to go hunting for a link to post. I have visited thousands of sites i
the interim and remembering the idiosyncracies of these sites is a
impossible expectation.

It just seems that so fundamental a task should be a lot easier t
execute.

Thanks for your help,

Bil
 
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