How to Split Text in Excel Without Using a Delimiter
No delimiter in your Excel data? No problem. Learn how to use the LEFT, MID, and RIGHT formulas to split fixed-width text strings without a separator character.
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Text Processing Guides & How-Tos — Page 3
Tips, guides, and ideas around text tools and productivity.
Practical guides on working with text and data. Every article pairs with a free tool you can open in the next tab and use straight away.
What the blog covers
Four topics, each tied to a tool
- Delimiters and file formats — what actually separates your data, and why CSV breaks when a value contains a comma. Pairs with the delimiter converter.
- Cleaning messy lists — deduplicating, sorting and trimming exports before they reach a database. Pairs with list clean-up.
- Counting text properly — why two programs disagree about the same paragraph, and which limit you are really up against. Pairs with the text counters.
- Typing faster — what WPM measures, and what actually moves the number. Pairs with the typing test.
Where to start
| If you are… | Read about | Then try |
|---|---|---|
| Fighting a broken CSV | Delimiters and quoting | Delimiter converter |
| Cleaning an export | Dedupe and sort order | List clean-up |
| Hitting a length limit | What counts as a word | Text counters |
| Trying to type faster | What WPM really measures | Typing test |
How to Split Cells and Columns by Delimiter in Excel
Learn how to split cells and columns by delimiter in Excel using the Text to Columns wizard and TEXTSPLIT formula. Includes tips for custom delimiters and handling messy data.
Comma vs Pipe vs Semicolon: Which Delimiter Is Best?
Comma, pipe, or semicolon? Picking the wrong delimiter quietly breaks your data. This guide compares all three on real-world data integrity so you can make the right call before you export.
The History of the Delimiter: Why We Separate Data
The humble delimiter has a surprisingly deep history. From punch cards to ASCII control characters to modern CSV files, discover why we use special characters to separate data.
The Best Delimiter for Large Data Sets: Pipe vs Comma
Commas are everywhere in real-world text, which makes them risky for large datasets. Learn why the pipe delimiter is often the better choice for protecting data integrity at scale.
How to Identify or Check the Delimiter of any Unknown Text File
Not sure what's separating the values in your text file? Learn how to quickly identify any delimiter using a plain text editor, spreadsheet tools, and online converters.
Why Do We Use Delimiters in Data Processing and Storage?
Delimiters are the characters that separate data values in files and databases. Learn why delimiter purpose matters in data processing and storage, and how to choose the right one.
Field vs Row Delimiters: The Building Blocks of Data
Field delimiters split values within a row. Row delimiters split records from each other. Understanding how both work is the key to reading, writing, and debugging any CSV or structured data file.
Types of Delimiters: Comma, Pipe, Tab and Space Explained
Comma, pipe, tab, or space? Learn what each delimiter type is, when to use it, and how to avoid the data-breaking mistakes that come from picking the wrong one.
What is a Delimiter? The Ultimate Guide to Data Separators
A delimiter is a character that separates data values so software knows where one field ends and the next begins. Learn what they are, which to use, and how to avoid common mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do you publish new guides?
New guides are released on a rolling schedule. There are 50 published so far, with more added regularly.
Can I suggest a topic?
Yes. Use the feedback button in the sidebar; reader questions are where most of these guides come from.
Do the guides pair with tools?
Every article links to the free tool that does the job it describes, so you can try it in the next tab without signing up.