Reverse Name Order

C

Cheri

I have names in one column in Excel and they are typed last name comma first
name. I would like to reverse this so the names were first name last name.
Is there a way to do that? Seems like I've done that before, can't remember
how.
 
A

Alan

One way,
With Smith,John in A1
=RIGHT(A1,FIND(",",A1)-2)&LEFT(A1,FIND(",",A1)-1)
will return JohnSmith
=RIGHT(A1,FIND(",",A1)-2)&" "&LEFT(A1,FIND(",",A1)-1)
will return John Smith,
Regards
 
C

Cheri

Thank you, but I was sure there was some little pull down thing that I'd done
before. I will try this though. Thanks!
 
C

Cheri

OK I tried this but where do I put that formula?

Alan said:
One way,
With Smith,John in A1
=RIGHT(A1,FIND(",",A1)-2)&LEFT(A1,FIND(",",A1)-1)
will return JohnSmith
=RIGHT(A1,FIND(",",A1)-2)&" "&LEFT(A1,FIND(",",A1)-1)
will return John Smith,
Regards
Click to expand...
 
C

Cheri

I don't know what I'm doing wrong but I cannot make this formula work. I get
an error message asking if I want the formula fixed. When I answer yes, I
get #VALUE in the cell. I've even copied the formula from the post.
 
A

Alex Delamain

If this is a one off you could use Data, Text to columns
This would split your names into a first name column and a last nam
column which you could then re-combine the other way around with
+a1&+"," &+b
 
C

Cheri

I found a formula that does work - the one =MID. Now what's the formula to
reverse it if you have names first name last name and want to change it to
last name, first name?
 
A

Alex Delamain

To turn "John Smith" into "Smith, John" use

=MID(A1,FIND(" ",A1)+1,255)&", "&LEFT(A1,FIND(" ",A1)
 
A

AlfD

Cheri:

Just a little thought a propos your last question
:
how can you tell for certain whether a name is first, last and no
last, first?

Two people John, Elton and Elton, John. Or is it one person in tw
directions?

Al
 
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