Scenario A: Delimited Data (e.g., comma-separated, pipe-separated)
Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 4:04 am
Example: A cafe uses a Google Form for loyalty sign-ups. Each new customer's info goes directly into a sheet with "Name" in column A, "Email" in B, "Phone" in C. Voila!
Lazy Method 2: The "Spreadsheet Magic" Way (When the Mess Already Exists)
This is for when you have a list already, usually in a text file or pasted into a single spreadsheet column.
Your Messy List: John Doe,[email protected],555-1234 or Product A|Widget|12.99
The Lazy Solution: "Text to Columns" (Excel) or "Split text to columns" (Google Sheets).
How it works: Paste your entire list into a single column (e.g., A1). Select that column. Go to Data > Text to brother cell phone list Columns (Excel) or Data > Split text to columns (Google Sheets). Tell the spreadsheet what character separates your data (comma, pipe, semicolon, etc.).
Why it's lazy: The spreadsheet automatically parses the text and puts each piece into its own column. You do virtually no manual work.
Tip: If your list almost has delimiters but some are inconsistent (e.g., Name: John Doe, Email: ... and Customer: Jane Smith; Email: ...), use a text editor's "Find and Replace All" (Ctrl+H) once to standardize them to a single delimiter (like |) before pasting into the spreadsheet. This is a one-time "lazy clean-up" for the automated split.
Scenario B: Pattern-Based Data (e.g., Name followed by 5 digits, always a date at the end)
Your Messy List: John Smith (Order #12345) Shipped 2025-05-15 or ACME Corp - Request for Quote - R007 - 2025/06/10
The Lazy Solution: "Flash Fill" (Excel) or a clever REGEXEXTRACT (Google Sheets, a bit less lazy but powerful).
Flash Fill (Excel - The epitome of laziness!):
Lazy Method 2: The "Spreadsheet Magic" Way (When the Mess Already Exists)
This is for when you have a list already, usually in a text file or pasted into a single spreadsheet column.
Your Messy List: John Doe,[email protected],555-1234 or Product A|Widget|12.99
The Lazy Solution: "Text to Columns" (Excel) or "Split text to columns" (Google Sheets).
How it works: Paste your entire list into a single column (e.g., A1). Select that column. Go to Data > Text to brother cell phone list Columns (Excel) or Data > Split text to columns (Google Sheets). Tell the spreadsheet what character separates your data (comma, pipe, semicolon, etc.).
Why it's lazy: The spreadsheet automatically parses the text and puts each piece into its own column. You do virtually no manual work.
Tip: If your list almost has delimiters but some are inconsistent (e.g., Name: John Doe, Email: ... and Customer: Jane Smith; Email: ...), use a text editor's "Find and Replace All" (Ctrl+H) once to standardize them to a single delimiter (like |) before pasting into the spreadsheet. This is a one-time "lazy clean-up" for the automated split.
Scenario B: Pattern-Based Data (e.g., Name followed by 5 digits, always a date at the end)
Your Messy List: John Smith (Order #12345) Shipped 2025-05-15 or ACME Corp - Request for Quote - R007 - 2025/06/10
The Lazy Solution: "Flash Fill" (Excel) or a clever REGEXEXTRACT (Google Sheets, a bit less lazy but powerful).
Flash Fill (Excel - The epitome of laziness!):