CLEAN function

Overview Syntax
• The CLEAN function removes all nonprintable characters =CLEAN(Text)
from text =CLEAN(Value you want specific character removed
• The CLEAN function looks at a value in one cell, and from)
removes nonprintable characters

Uses and Applications Tips and Tricks

• Cleaning large data sets • Can be nested with other data cleansing formulas
• Removing extra characters that are unwanted in specific (I.e. Trim, Value)
cells or a range of cells

Function Input Criteria

 TRIM function
Overview Syntax
• The TRIM function removes all spaces from a string =TRIM(Text)
(with the exception of single spaces between words) =TRIM(Value you want the spaces removed from)

Uses and Applications Tips and Tricks

• Use TRIM on text that you have received from another • Can be nested with other data cleansing formulas
application that may have irregular spacing (i.e. Clean, Value)

Function Input Criteria

 SUBSTITUTE function
Overview Syntax
• The SUBSTITUTE function substitutes new_text for =SUBSTITUTE(Text, Old_Text, New_Text,
old_text in a text string Instance_num)
=SUBSTITUTE(Text or reference to text you want to
substitute characters, text you want to replace, the text
you want to replace old text with, (Optional) Specifies
with instance of old text you want to replace with new
text)

Uses and Applications Tips and Tricks

• Use SUBSTITUTE when you want to replace specific text • Use quotes around text strings
in a text string

Function Input Criteria

 VALUE function
Overview Syntax
• The VALUE function converts a text string that =VALUE(Text)
represents a number into a number =VALUE(Cell to be converted)
• The text enclosed in quotation marks or a reference to a
cell containing the text you want to convert

Uses and Applications Tips and Tricks

• Text can be in any of the constant number, date, or time • Generally you do not need to use the VALUE function
formats recognized by Microsoft Excel in a formula because Excel automatically converts text
to numbers as necessary

Function Input Criteria

 TEXT function
Overview Syntax
The TEXT enclosed in quotation marks or a reference to a =TEXT(Value, Fomat_Text)
cell containing the text you want to convert =TEXT(Value you want to format, “Format you want to
apply to that value”)

Uses and Applications Tips and Tricks

• Combine a set of data to a useful sentence • The format text argument is not case sensitive
• Write today’s date as a sentence
- ="Today's date is
"&TEXT(TODAY(),"mm/dd/yy") would return
“Today’s date is 08/1/16”

Function Input Criteria

 Convert Text to Columns Wizard
Overview Syntax
• The Convert Text to Columns Wizard can be used to To access the wizard, select “Data” on the ribbon menu
separate simple cell content, such as first names and last and select “Text to Columns”
names, into different columns
• This function can delimit data based on any symbol or
character such as a dash or underscore

Uses and Applications Tips and Tricks

• Split content based on a delimiter • Use the data preview box to check the output of your
• Split cell content based on a column break data
• Be sure to select the appropriate destination for the
data you wish to alter