Split Text on New Line using Excel & VBA [Macros]

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Hafiz, One of our avid readers, writes in.

Dear chandoo,

all the time, I use to spend time exploring chandoo.org. it’s very helpful site. thanks for your day & night efforts.

here I have to face a problem with “Text to Column”. can you please spare some time & guide me.

The problem is when I convert data from text to column using dash “-“, conversion is easy. but when the gap provided in text is with “alt+enter”, i can’t convert the data.

Do you have some solution specifically using text to column.

Well, I tried to use text to columns feature (from Data ribbon) and it would not work.

Although you can use formulas to do the splitting, they might become tedious. So the next logical option is to use macros.

Excel Macros to Split Text on New Lines

So I wrote a simple macro, that would take the text in current cell, split it and place it in adjacent cells. Like this:
Split Text on New Line using VBA & Excel

Macro Code to split text on new line:

Here is the macro code to split text based on new lines.

Sub splitText()
'splits Text active cell using ALT+10 char as separator
Dim splitVals As Variant
Dim totalVals As Long

splitVals = Split(ActiveCell.Value, Chr(10))
totalVals = UBound(splitVals)
Range(Cells(ActiveCell.Row, ActiveCell.Column + 1), Cells(ActiveCell.Row, ActiveCell.Column + 1 + totalVals)).Value = splitVals

End Sub

How does this code work?

  1. First we take the activecell’s value and split it based on Chr(10) as delimiter. This is the code for new lines.
  2. Then, we assign this split values to the range of cells adjacent to active cell.
  3. Then, we go grab a cup of coffee and sing our favorite song. Because the work is done!

Download Example Workbook

Click here to download example workbook and play with this macro. Make sure to enable macros.

How do you split text?

I really like the built-in text import feature in Excel and use it often. I use it to clean data, remove unnecessary columns or split text. In cases like this, I resort to VBA to have good control over how I want to split.

What about you? How do you split text. What is your experience. Please share your ideas and tips using comments.

Learn more about Splitting Text

If you split often, you will find this tutorial useful.

More VBA & Excel Macro Examples

If you want to learn VBA, go thru these examples

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30 Responses to “Great News: Chandoo becomes MVP”

  1. arkangel says:

    Congratulations! It's well deserved. 🙂

  2. Bhars says:

    This is amazing. Hearty congratulations and a rocking new year ahead!!!

  3. Frederick says:

    Congrats! I have learnt alot from your site... and the most important is learning how to achieve the most with the simplest concepts.

  4. Harish Chotai says:

    Thanks for the excel calendar. Is it possible to get a simple big fonted calendar printable on an A4 size paper without any distracive notes or visuals? BTW, I have already signed up for your newsletter. With warm regards and
    Gratefully yours
    50+ year old CHarish.

  5. Pankaj Verm says:

    Hey Chandoo,

    Great to hear that. Congratulations! The best new year gift, I would say. Keep it up, u've been doing extraordinary work for the excel users community.

    Regards,

    Pankaj Verma

  6. Amit says:

    Congrats dude... fantastic news!

  7. Rich says:

    congratulations! your site is great, this is well deserved

    Rich

  8. Arnold says:

    I recently found your site, I visit many. The tips that you provide are in the top 1% of all the sites I visit. Keep on Excelling.

    Arnold
    South Africa

  9. Jorge Camoes says:

    Congratulations, Chandoo! That's a great way to start the year and make the PHD even better.

  10. Jiri Cihar says:

    Congratulations, Chandoo.

    Your site is one of most useful on the net. Happy new year and lot of ideas you will present for us.

  11. Amit Agarwal says:

    Congrats.

    Just read your name in an email from Abhishek. Well deserved.

  12. Jon Peltier says:

    Congratulations, and Happy New Year.

  13. Fchaves says:

    Greetings from Rio de Janeiro my friend! You trully deserve it!

    Nive way to start 2009! Keep up the good work!

    FC

  14. Santosh says:

    That was quite forseeable , so you have now really got your PhD in excel.
    Anyways Chandoo you have made excel a real Fun doo
    I will like you to write some more on INDEX and MATCH function in near future.

  15. Ketan says:

    @Hey Chandoo ! Congrates....

    Ab to treat mangta hai !

  16. Rajiv Thakur says:

    Well deserved Chandoo!!

  17. Cheryl says:

    Congrat's!! Very well deserved 🙂

  18. azmat says:

    i always browsed mr.excel and used to see MVP writtne below names of people who used to solve queries in excel forum there......i just used to admire as to what they have special in them that they are MVP......

    but now i got my answer...............u deserve it man..........

  19. Chandoo says:

    @All: thanks everyone 🙂

  20. JP says:

    Congratulations Chandoo, nice job!

  21. Subbaraman says:

    Chandoo,

    A well deserved recognition and a good start to the New Year. Continue your good work.

    Subbu

  22. Vishal Haria says:

    Many Congratulations.
    You deserve a Ph.D. 🙂

  23. Govar says:

    Congrats dude. Rock on!

  24. [...] charting community in 2007 and has been growing strongly ever since. In year 2009, I have received the MVP award from Microsoft. Just few days back I have become a dad [...]

  25. Respected sir,

    I am impressed!.... Good job done.. Keep it up...

    Sir, How to be a MVP certified person. What level of knowledge is required for it? send me links if possible.

    Please reply...

    Regards,
    Dipak Khalasi.

  26. Jon Peltier says:

    Dipak -

    The first thing you need to cultivate is the ability to search the web effectively. You could start by Googling "Microsoft MVP". 

  27. [...] boy and girl which has been made hectic and incredibly fun ever since to their life.He has been awarded MVP status in 2009 by Microsoft(and renewed in 2010,2011 & 2012).His MVP profile is here.If you want to contact him direct then [...]

  28. Sumit says:

    Congrats Chandoo!!

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