There's no such thing as a stupid question, but they're the easiest to answer.
JoinTour
Login
Search
Business Applications
Tag Cloud
access acer asus bios bsod computer crash desktop driver drivers error ethernet excel freeze gaming hard drive hardware hdmi internet laptop malware memory modem monitor motherboard netgear network printer problem ram registry repair router slow software sound toshiba trojan usb video virus vista wifi windows windows 7 windows 7 32 bit windows 7 64 bit windows xp wireless xbox
Search
Search for:
Tech Support Guy Forums > Software & Hardware > Business Applications >
Solved: Excel 97: How can I convert "Columns to Text..."?

Reply  
Thread Tools
bobarens's Avatar
Computer Specs
Junior Member with 6 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Experience: Advanced
01-Nov-2009, 05:18 PM #1
Solved: Excel 97: How can I convert "Columns to Text..."?
In Excel 97 under the Data menue there is a command to convert "Text to Columns...". But, I want to convert "Columns to Text...". How do I do that? bob.arens37@gmail.com
Zack Barresse's Avatar
Computer Specs
Distinguished Member with 5,030 posts.
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Oregon, United States
Experience: I'ma learnin'!
01-Nov-2009, 05:25 PM #2
Hi there Bob, welcome to the board!

First things first, edit your post and remove your email address. I'd leave it as "bob DOT arens 37 AT gmail DOT com" or something like that. There are automated bots which troll forums looking for email addresses and that's a perfect way to get some spam mail headed your way.

Can you please explain what it is you are trying to do? And not how you want to get it done. Providing us with as many details as you can about your data, how it is structured, and the end result you are looking for, will get you the best help possible here.
bobarens's Avatar
Computer Specs
Junior Member with 6 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Experience: Advanced
01-Nov-2009, 06:01 PM #3
In Excel 97 how do I convert from 'columns' to 'text'?
I started with 'no columns' created by copying and pasting from a txt file. I then did a "Text to Columns..." conversion in order to be able to insert the added data you see in 'all columns'. Now, I want to keep all the data shown in 'all columns', but, I want it like 'no columns'. i.e. the data as strings not separated into columns. See attached 'no columns' and 'all columns' jpg of Excel examples.
Attached Thumbnails
Solved: Excel 97: How can I convert "Columns to Text..."?-no-columns.jpg   Solved: Excel 97: How can I convert "Columns to Text..."?-all-columns.jpg  
Zack Barresse's Avatar
Computer Specs
Distinguished Member with 5,030 posts.
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Oregon, United States
Experience: I'ma learnin'!
01-Nov-2009, 06:07 PM #4
I'm not sure what 'no columns' or 'all columns' are, I don't see those in your picture attachments. It appears you did a Text to Columns delimited with a space and then did some minor manual manipulation on the data (I'm willing to bet it took you quite a while?). But I'm still unclear as to what it is you are trying to do. You have the data, so what do you want to do with it now? If you can upload what you have, then explian what it is you are trying to do, that would help.
bobarens's Avatar
Computer Specs
Junior Member with 6 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Experience: Advanced
01-Nov-2009, 06:44 PM #5
convert 'columns to text'
Look more closely at the jpgs. You'll notice in the 'no columns' jpg that the text is continuous and not separated into columns, thus 'no columns'. The column headings; A, B, C, etc are there, but, no columns under these column headings. In the 'all columns' jpg you'll notice that each word (set of contiguous characters) of the text is in a separate column, thus, 'all columns'.
Noyb's Avatar
Computer Specs
Distinguished Member with 17,472 posts.
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kokomo, IN
Experience: More Input Please
01-Nov-2009, 06:53 PM #6
A Tab character defines a new Column.

Using Word .. Replace all the Spaces with a Tab .. Then Paste into Excel.
or Tabs with Spaces .... Is this what you're looking for ???
bobarens's Avatar
Computer Specs
Junior Member with 6 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Experience: Advanced
01-Nov-2009, 07:35 PM #7
No. Following your instructions, I copied the Excel sheet to Word and then copied the Word document back into Excel and I ended up with a picture in Excel with no columns. That is not what I want. I want text in Excel like shown in my 'no columns' example.
Noyb's Avatar
Computer Specs
Distinguished Member with 17,472 posts.
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kokomo, IN
Experience: More Input Please
01-Nov-2009, 07:41 PM #8
Can you attach an Excel here ... that you want to convert from ??
bobarens's Avatar
Computer Specs
Junior Member with 6 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Experience: Advanced
01-Nov-2009, 07:45 PM #9
YES YES YES. Your suggestion worked after I first replaced all the tabs in the Word file with spaces and then pasted into Excel as 'text'.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Zack Barresse's Avatar
Computer Specs
Distinguished Member with 5,030 posts.
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Oregon, United States
Experience: I'ma learnin'!
01-Nov-2009, 07:48 PM #10
Glad you got it solved. Can you mark your thread as solved?
Noyb's Avatar
Computer Specs
Distinguished Member with 17,472 posts.
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kokomo, IN
Experience: More Input Please
01-Nov-2009, 07:53 PM #11
I thought you missed the "TEXT" part ..
And was confused what you wanted to convert from.

Sometimes .. I have to Paste to a Text file .. Then Copy > Paste to Word.
This will remove some formatting .. If it gets in your way.
Zack Barresse's Avatar
Computer Specs
Distinguished Member with 5,030 posts.
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Oregon, United States
Experience: I'ma learnin'!
01-Nov-2009, 07:54 PM #12
ASAP Utilities has some good tools for removing characters from ranges as well.
bobarens's Avatar
Computer Specs
Junior Member with 6 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Experience: Advanced
01-Nov-2009, 11:52 PM #13
My Excel 'convert from column to text' problem is solved. GREAT JOB. THANK YOU.
Noyb's Avatar
Computer Specs
Distinguished Member with 17,472 posts.
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kokomo, IN
Experience: More Input Please
02-Nov-2009, 07:29 AM #14
Look at the top of this page ... There is a place where you can mark it Solved.
Since this is your post .. Only you can solve it.

I'm not an Excel expert .. But Glad I could help.
Reply

THIS THREAD HAS EXPIRED.
Are you having the same problem? We have volunteers ready to answer your question, but first you'll have to join for free. Need help getting started? Check out our Welcome Guide.

Search Tech Support Guy

Find the solution to your
computer problem!




Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
WELCOME TO TECH SUPPORT GUY! Are you looking for the solution to your computer problem? Join our site today to ask your question -- for free! Our site is run completely by volunteers who want to help you solve your computer problems. See our Welcome Guide to get started.
Thread Tools



Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter TechGuy.tv TechGuy.tv Mobile TSG Mobile
You Are Using:
Server ID
Advertisements do not imply our endorsement of that product or service.
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:48 AM.
Copyright © 1996 - 2011 TechGuy, Inc. All rights reserved.

Powered by Cermak Technologies, Inc.