Forum Discussion

Copper Contributor

May 29, 2019

Solved

Reverse name order

I used to do complicated macros years ago, but I either forgot something or the options have changed. I can still do some macros, but not edit a cell. I have a list of names that are "Last name, F...

excel

Haytham Amairah
May 29, 2019
Hi joni_CCD-8244,

You don't need a macro to do that.
This formula does the trick:
=RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-SEARCH(",",A1)-1)&" "&LEFT(A1,SEARCH(",",A1)-1)

You can even do that without using any formula!
By using the https://support.office.com/en-us/article/using-flash-fill-in-excel-3f9bcf1e-db93-4890-94a0-1578341f73f7.

Hope that helps

Haytham Amairah

Silver Contributor

May 29, 2019

Hi joni_CCD-8244,

You don't need a macro to do that.

This formula does the trick:

=RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-SEARCH(",",A1)-1)&" "&LEFT(A1,SEARCH(",",A1)-1)

You can even do that without using any formula!

By using the https://support.office.com/en-us/article/using-flash-fill-in-excel-3f9bcf1e-db93-4890-94a0-1578341f73f7.

Hope that helps

joni_CCD-8244
Copper Contributor
May 29, 2019
Haytham Amairah
The formula gave me a #VALUE! error (and I copied and pasted your formula); HOWEVER, your suggestion to use Flash Fill worked beautifully. Thank you so much.
- Haytham Amairah
  Silver Contributor
  May 29, 2019
  joni_CCD-8244
  
  It seems that the names in your original data are not separated by a comma+space just space??
  If so, try this formula instead:
  =RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-SEARCH(" ",A1))&" "&LEFT(A1,SEARCH(" ",A1)-1)
  
  Hope that helps
  - nauwelaertsevelien
    Copper Contributor
    Jan 28, 2020
    Haytham Amairah
    
    Hi,
    
    I am trying to use your formula as well but the names I use are a bit more complex.
    For the name: de Bakker Alexandra
    I receive: Bakker Alexandra de with your formula.
    I want to obtain Alexandra de Bakker
    
    How can I do this?
    
    Thank you for your help.