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Kevin_Burchell's avatar
Kevin_Burchell
Copper Contributor
Jun 15, 2023

Find and replace apostrophe

I am trying to use find and replace but the version of the apostrophe that is in the data (I need to get rid of that to do tests) is not recognised by the apostrophe that you type into the Find box. ...
Excel
  • OliverScheurich's avatar
    OliverScheurich
    Jun 15, 2023

    Kevin_Burchell 

    Does it work if you copy the apostrophe that is in the data and paste it into the find box?

     

    =SUBSTITUTE(A2,"'","")

     

    This formula seems to work in my sheet. If the apostrophe that i type didn't work i'd try to copy the apostrophe that is in the data and paste it into the formula.

Kevin_Burchell's avatar
Kevin_Burchell
Copper Contributor
Hi again, could I ask a follow-up question. I have a bunch of cells with text in (different text in different columns) (and some without) and I would like to change all the cells with text in to 1. Can I easily specify 'find any text' and replace with 1? Thank you.
OliverScheurich's avatar
OliverScheurich
Gold Contributor
Jun 15, 2023

Kevin_Burchell 

=IF(ISTEXT(A2),1,A2)

 

Does this return the intended result? If you want to return the results in range A2:F12 you can copy range A14:F24 and paste only the values into range A2:F12.

  • Kevin_Burchell's avatar
    Kevin_Burchell
    Copper Contributor
    Jun 15, 2023
    Hi OliverScheurich
    Thank you.
    You are operating at a level that is way beyond me! Can I ask: in =IF(ISTEXT(A2),1,A2) I can see that you specify A2 but I am wondering how you are specifying F12. Does that make sense? BTW, I do not have any cells with numbers in them, only cells with text.
    Cheers
    Kevin
    • OliverScheurich's avatar
      OliverScheurich
      Gold Contributor
      Jun 15, 2023

      Kevin_Burchell 

      =IF(ISTEXT(A2),1,"")

       

      This is the adapted formula since there are empty cells or cells with text. The formula is in cell A14 and filled across the range A14:F24. Filling the formula across this range changes the referenced cell. In the attached file you can select any cell in range A14:F24 and see which cell is referenced.

       

      For example:

      In cell A14 the formula is =IF(ISTEXT(A2),1,"")

      In cell A15 the formula is =IF(ISTEXT(A3),1,"")

      In cell B14 the formula is =IF(ISTEXT(B2),1,"")

       

      • Kevin_Burchell's avatar
        Kevin_Burchell
        Copper Contributor
        Jun 15, 2023
        Hi, thank you.

        I have made some progress. I have used the formula to create the new data below the original data (if is very difficult as I have 1400 cases). However, when I try to copy the new data into where the old data was (or delete the old data cells and shift up), everything disappears and I have to start again. I need to do this so that the new data is in amongst the rest of the original data that I want to keep.

        Can you tell me a way to use the Find and Replace function to do this. Is there something I can put in Find that will do this for me. It seems so simple.

        Thanks for your help, sorry to take up your time.

        Thanks
        Kevin

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