How To Reorder Last Name And First Name In Excel

Are you having trouble reordering your first and last names in an Excel spreadsheet? Look no further. In this guide, you’ll learn how to easily reorder your names in no time!

Understanding Data Formats for Reordering Names in Excel

Working with a lot of data in Excel can seem overwhelming. But, with knowledge on data formats and some tricks, it can be done fast and easy! In this guide, we’ll look into the different data format types you may come across and how to analyze them for reordering names. We’ll also figure out how to recognize columns that have first and last names. Let’s get started and make sorting names simpler!

Analyzing Data Format Types

For analyzing data types, let’s start by creating a table. We can categorize the formats, like text strings, dates, numbers, etc. We must consider the different characters and separators while sorting.

For example, names can be split with a comma, or initials can be provided.

We can solve this by having data entry standards and using functions like MID or SEARCH to manipulate the fields. Or, use conditional formatting rules or sorting elements within pivot tables.

In conclusion, we need to understand how to resolve formatting issues so excel can sort the information accurately. An organized approach helps to identify patterns. Then, we can identify columns with first/last names.

Identifying Columns with First and Last Names

Open the Excel spreadsheet with the names you want to reorder. Carefully examine the data to figure out which column is for first names and which is for last names. Look for patterns, such as first names often beginning with a capital letter, and last names after commas or semicolons. Make a note of the column headers for future use.

Double-check your accuracy. If a column has varying lengths of text separated by commas, it may be tricky to distinguish between first and last names without examining each name individually. Thus, take your time and study the data.

To make it easier in the future, label the columns “Last Name” or “First Name“. Then, continue to ‘Reordering Names in Excel Using Functions’ to find out different ways to rearrange the data!

Reordering Names in Excel Using Functions

Struggling with Excel and a long list of names? Annoying having to keep track of each first and last name separately? Don’t worry! Excel has functions to help you out. In this lesson, we’ll discuss those functions.

• TEXTJOIN for merging text strings.
• CONCATENATE for joining multiple text strings.
• And, CONCAT for concatenating cell values.

Let’s make data manipulation simpler and quicker!

Utilizing the TEXTJOIN Function

Reorder names in Excel with the TEXTJOIN function. It is a useful tool to join text from different cells and have more control on delimiter placement. Here’s a 3-step guide:

1. Type “=” in the cell where the new name list will be.
2. Enter “TEXTJOIN(“delimiter”,TRUE,”cell1″, “cell2″, etc.)”. Replace “delimiter” with a comma, space, underscore, or whatever symbol. “cell1” and “cell2” are the cells with the last name and first name. Ex: =TEXTJOIN(“,”,TRUE,C2,B2).
3. Close with parentheses and hit Enter.

Using the formula correctly will switch the positions between first and last names.

The TEXTJOIN function lets you merge cells into one text string. You can choose the delimiter (ex: , , space, -). It also skips blank cells when joining text values, which is helpful when there are missing entries.

Microsoft introduced CONCATENATE before ‘&‘ was available. Excel 2016 released the updated CONCATENATE, as well as new functions like IFS. That’s an alternative to the TEXTJOIN formula.

Implementing the CONCATENATE Function

To use CONCATENATE in Excel, try these 3 simple steps:

1. Open the spreadsheet and select the cell you want to show the joined text.
2. Type ‘=’ for a formula and enter CONCATENATE, with an open parenthesis ‘(‘.
3. Enter the cell references or text inside quotes, split by commas. Finish with a closing parenthesis ‘)’ and hit enter.

The CONCATENATE function lets you blend text strings or info from multiple cells into one. Put the cell references of each part of the data or text, using commas and quotes.

Using the CONCATENATE function may seem tricky, but it’s not so tough. Master this easy Excel function and you can quickly reorganize any column of data.

A user employed this knowledge to reorder a long list of customer info. Think of how much time it saved them, instead of manually rewriting each line.

For more customization, use the bigger CONCAT function within Excel. It gives you more control over combining multiple cells or ranges into one.

Employing the CONCAT Function

Reordering names in Excel is simple with the CONCAT Function. Here are 3 steps:

1. Select the column with full names.
2. Insert a new column to the right.
3. In cell B2, apply the formula =CONCATENATE(RIGHT(A2,LEN(A2)-FIND(” “,A2)),”, “,LEFT(A2,FIND(” “,A2)-1)). Drag down for other cells in Column B.

Follow these steps and you’ll have a whole column with reordered First Name and Last Name.

The CONCAT function is quick and easy to use. Simply specify which two strings to combine, i.e. Last Name and First Name. This formula applies to multiple cells in seconds.

Be aware though, it won’t work if there are middle names or initials (Ronald J Smith). In this case, use data cleaning strategies.

To sum up, CONCAT Function is useful to switch around first and last names in Excel.

If there is a comma between the last and first name (Smith, John) or unexpected spaces (Smith    John M.), modify the formula.

Now, let’s move on to another technique – Data Cleaning Strategies for Reordering Names in Excel.

Data Cleaning Strategies for Reordering Names in Excel

Frustrating, right? Dealing with data that’s dirty. Reordering names in Excel isn’t fun either. Here, strategies for managing & organizing names will be discussed. We’ll eliminate extra spaces and remove unneeded characters. When it’s done, you’ll know how to optimise the data-cleaning process for reordering last names & first names in Excel.

Eliminating Extra Spaces in Names

Eliminating extra spaces in names is easy with this 6-step guide:

1. Choose a cell or make a new one.
2. Click the “Fx” button near the formula bar.
3. Type “Trim” into the search box and select it.
4. Input the cell with the name you wish to trim.
5. Press enter to remove any unwanted white space.
6. Drag down or copy and paste onto other cells.

Uniformity among names comes from eliminating extra spaces. This lets you do analysis functions like filtering and sorting. It’s also helpful when dealing with raw data inputs of names from external excels documents.

At work last month, our team had to cross-analyze multiple large datasets. But inconsistent formatting, like extra spaces around name strings, caused us to clean data instead of analyzing it.

In the ‘Eliminating Extra Spaces‘ section, we learned how to reformat strings correctly by removing extra white spacing.

The next heading is about Removing Unwanted Characters in Names. These small errors happen when collecting data from different sources. We’ll learn how to fix it.

Removing Unwanted Characters in Names

Follow this 4-step guide to remove unwanted characters in names!

1. Select cells containing the names.
2. Click ‘Find and Replace’ in ‘Editing’ group of ‘Home’ tab.
3. In ‘Find what:’ field, enter character to remove (e.g., hyphen). Leave ‘Replace with:’ field blank.
4. Click ‘Replace All’. All instances of the character will be removed from all selected cells.

A quality check is important. Make sure each record is consistent and free from errors. It improves accuracy and makes data analysis easier.

Omitting this step can create discrepancies. It’s unreliable and bad for businesses. So, it’s essential to do this for accurate results.

Next: Sorting Names in Excel!

Sorting Names in Excel

Sorting names in Excel can be a real chore. Especially when first and last names are in the wrong columns. But don’t worry! It’s easy to fix. In this guide, we’re focusing on different methods to sort names in Excel. We’ll start by looking at sorting data by last name. It’s great for lists with surnames. With these tips, you’ll be able to organize your data and save time in the future.

Sorting Data by Last Name

Sorting data by last name needs certain steps. Primarily, make sure the data entered into Excel uses the correct formatting. Separate first/last names with commas or spaces, based on preference.

A great way to understand how to sort data by last name is to create a table with actual examples. Having columns for Surname, First Name, Emails and Phone numbers makes it simpler to follow the sorting process.

Remember, sorting names requires specific formulas and functions. For instance, LEFT(), MID(), RIGHT() and CONCATENATE().

Sorting data by last name is a basic job, but can be a problem if done wrong. An example: businesses can struggle to identify people from payroll records, leading to delays in employee payments. This reduces productivity and goodwill.

After discussing tips on sorting names in Excel, Exporting Data After Reordering Names can be mentioned.

Exporting Data After Reordering Names

We now know how to change names in Excel. Our next step is to export the data. This is important to use the rearranged data in other software, or to share it with others.

Let’s learn two techniques of exporting data after reordering names. First, exporting as a CSV file. Second, exporting as an Excel file. Each has its own advantages and drawbacks. So, it’s essential to decide which works for your needs. Let’s begin!

Exporting Data as a CSV file

Exporting data as a CSV file is a great way to transfer data quickly between systems. Follow these 6 simple steps to get your data ready for Excel!

1. Open up the Excel document that holds the data you wish to export.
2. Select the “File” menu at the top left of the screen and click “Save As”.
3. Choose where to save the file in the “Save As” box.
4. Put a name for your file in the “File Name” box. Change the format to “CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv)”.
5. Click “Save”. If prompted, confirm that you want to save the document in the CSV format.
6. Your data is now saved as a CSV file, which can be opened in Excel or transferred to other systems.

Exporting data as a CSV file is great when you need to share or move large amounts of data. It’ll keep all of your data accurate, and maintain any formulas or functions. Plus, you’ll have more control over how the info is organized and displayed!

So, don’t miss out on this chance to make your workflow easier. Export data as a CSV file today!

Exporting Data as an Excel file

Exporting data as an Excel file is a breeze! Just follow these three easy steps:

1. Open the data you want to export in Excel and go to “File” > “Save As”. Select “Excel Workbook” from the drop-down menu.
2. Pick a name and location for your exported file in the “Save As” dialog box. You can also save it in a different folder or drive. Hit the “Save” button when you’re ready.
3. Your data will now be exported as an Excel file (.xlsx) and saved to your chosen location. It’s ready to be shared or saved for future use.

Making any changes to your exported file is easy. Just open it in Excel and make the modifications needed. Then, save it again with these same three steps.

Before exporting, check all the details since any changes made afterward won’t be reflected unless re-exported. Also, it’s important to remember that if someone else opens your exported file, they can modify its content, so ensure that security measures are in place.

Exporting data as an Excel file is simple and fast. You can easily collaborate and share data with others who need it, while maintaining confidentiality and security.

FAQs about How To Reorder Last Name And First Name In Excel

1. How can I reorder last name and first name in Excel?

To reorder last name and first name in Excel, you can follow these steps:
1. Select the column of names that you want to split.
2. Go to the Data tab and click on Text to Columns.
3. In the wizard that appears, choose Delimited and click Next.
4. Check the box next to Space and uncheck any other boxes. Click Next.
5. In Step 3, choose the destination cell where you want to put the new first name. Click Finish.
6. Insert a new column next to the newly separated first name column.
7. In the first cell of the new column, type =CONCATENATE(last name cell, comma and a space, first name cell) then hit Enter.
8. Double-click the fill handle to copy the formula down to the rest of the cells.

2. Can I use a formula to reorder last name and first name in Excel?

Yes, you can use a formula to reorder last name and first name in Excel. The formula you can use is =RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-FIND(“,”,A1)-1)&” “&LEFT(A1,FIND(“,”,A1)-1). This formula will work if the last name and first name are separated by a comma and a space in a single cell (A1). You can modify the formula as needed if your data is different.

3. Can I automate reordering last name and first name in Excel?

Yes, you can automate reordering last name and first name in Excel using a macro. Here’s an example:
1. Press Alt + F11 to open the Visual Basic Editor.
2. Go to Insert -> Module.
3. Copy and paste the following code:
Sub LastNameFirstName()
Dim cell As Range
For Each cell In Selection
If InStr(cell.Value, “, “) Then
cell.Offset(, 1).Value = Mid(cell.Value, InStr(cell.Value, “, “) + 2) & ” ” & Left(cell.Value, InStr(cell.Value, “, “) – 1)
End If
Next cell
End Sub
4. Close the Visual Basic Editor.
5. Select the range of cells that you want to apply the macro to.
6. Go to Developer -> Macros.
7. Select the LastNameFirstName macro and click Run.

4. Do I need to install any add-ins to reorder last name and first name in Excel?

No, you don’t need to install any add-ins to reorder last name and first name in Excel. Excel has built-in functions that you can use for this purpose. You can also use macros to automate the process.

5. Can I reorder last name and first name for multiple rows in Excel?

Yes, you can reorder last name and first name for multiple rows in Excel by selecting the range of cells that you want to apply the formula or macro to. The formula or macro will be applied to all the selected cells.

6. Can I undo reordering last name and first name in Excel?

Yes, you can undo reordering last name and first name in Excel by pressing Ctrl + Z immediately after making the changes. You can also go to Edit -> Undo or use the Undo icon on the Quick Access Toolbar.