The best thing about Excel is that you can do the same thing in several ways. Our yesterdays problem – Extracting file name from full path is no different. There are many different ways to do it, apart from writing a formula. Learn these techniques to be a data extraction ninja.
1. Using Find Replace
Suggested by Iain in the comments yesterday, I love this technique for its simplicity and awesomeness.
- Select all the file paths
- Press CTRL+H
- Type *\ in find field
- Leave the replace field empty.
- Click on Replace all.
- Done!
It is that simple. Do not believe me? See this demo.
Thanks Iain for teaching us this trick.
2. Using Text to columns utility
Buried inside heap of features in Excel is this beautiful Text to columns utility, that can take any text and convert it in to many columns based on the delimiter you specify. [more uses of text to columns]
This is how we can use it:
- Select all the file path cells
- Go to Data > Text to columns
- Chose “Delimited” in step 1 and click next.
- Specify delimiter as \
- Click Finish
- You will get all folders in to separate cells and file name in last cell.
- Now use a formula like =INDEX($C3:$O3,COUNTA($C3:$O3)) to extract the last cell’s value ie file name
- Done!
3. Using UDFs
While our formula method tends to be very long or very complicated, we can use 1-2 line VBA to get the file name from a full path. There are many ways to skin this cat in VBA, but 2 easiest methods are,
For both methods below, you first need to insert a new module and add the code in that.
Using InStrRev
As suggested by Daniel Ferry in the comments.
Public Function ParseFile(sPath As String) As Variant
ParseFile = Array(Mid$(sPath, 1 + InStrRev(sPath, “\”)), Mid$(sPath, 1 + InStrRev(sPath, “.”)))
End Function
Note: this UDF returns an array for file name & extension. So you need to enter it in 2 cells together.
The InStrRev() built in function searches for \ in the sPath from end and returns the first occurrence’s position.
Using split
As suggested by PPH in comments,
Function ExtractFileName(filepath) As String
Dim x As Variant
x = Split(filepath, Application.PathSeparator)
ExtractFileName = x(UBound(x))
End Function
What is your favorite method?
For most of my data cleaning needs, I use a mix of text to columns, find-replace or VBA. In rare cases, I rely on a formula. This is because data cleaning or extraction is usually one time step and figuring out a complex formula is not good idea in such cases.
What about you? How do you go about extracting filenames, dates, numbers etc. buried in text? What method do you use often? Please share with us in comments.
18 Responses to “Best Charts to Compare Actual Values with Targets – What is your take?”
Great post. I can't vote, though, because the answer I want to put down is "it depends". As with all visualisations, you've got to take into account your audience, your purpose, technical skills, where it will be viewed, etc.
I'm with Andy: It depends. Some I would use, some I might use, some I won't touch with a barge pole.
Naturally I have comments 🙂
The dial gauge, though familiar, is less easy to read than a linear type of chart (thermometer or bullet). It's really no better than the traffic lights, because all it can really tell you is which category the point falls in: red, yellow, or green.
By the same token, pie charts are so familiar, people don't know they can't read them. Remember how long it takes kids to learn to read an analog clock?
Bullet charts don't show trends.
With any of the charts that have a filled component and a marker or ine component, it makes more sense to use the filled component (area/ column) for target, and the lines or markers for actual.
[...] Best Charts to Compare Actual values with Targets (or Budgets … [...]
I voted for #6 even though I agree with the other comments that it depends.
The majority of the votes are for the #2, thermometer chart. I still have yet to understand what happens when you are above plan/goal, which was brought up in yesterday's post.
Also, I agree with Jon in that it would be better to flip the series and make the filled part the target or goal and the line or marker the actual.
I am also a fan of using text when appropriate if the data is among other metrics in a type of dashboard. Calling it out by saying actual and % achievement is a good option.
Another "it depends" vote. Are you just looking at one or are you comparing a number of targets with actuals? You didn't include a text box. The problem with sentences is that they can get lost in a page of gray text. A text box can call attention to the numbers and line them up effectively.
I'm with Jon: "Some I would use, some I might use, some I won’t touch with a barge pole" and I'm surprised that some of your readers voted for the last group.
Jon says:
With any of the charts that have a filled component and a marker or line component, it makes more sense to use the filled component (area/ column) for target, and the lines or markers for actual.
Why does this make more sense? I like 6 the way it is, although I would use a heavy dash for the plan/target marker.
"It depends" is also my take. What I usually try to drill into my clients dashboard design is the fu ndamental difference between spot results (am I on target for this month) and long term trends.. I always try to create 3 different set of graphs to represent real perormance:
- spot results vs objectives
- cumulative results vs objectives
- long-term trend (moving average) mostly) to see where we're going
[...] Best Charts to Compare Actual Values with Targets – What is your take? (tags: excel charts) [...]
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Jon says:
With any of the charts that have a filled component and a marker or line component, it makes more sense to use the filled component (area/ column) for target, and the lines or markers for actual.
Why does this make more sense? I like 6 the way it is, although I would use a heavy dash for the plan/target marker.
I totally agree, Bob. I would normally favour a line for the target and a column for the actual, you can see quite easily then which columns break through the line, then.
[...] best charts to compare actual values with targets — den Status mal anders zeigen, z. B. als Tacho [...]
Thermometer charts: "Not appropriate when actual values exceed targets" - this is easily solved by making the "mercury" portion a different color from the border, then you can clearly see where the expected range ends and the actual values keep going.
People seem to knock gauges quite a bit in dashboarding, but trying to show comparison of realtime data between operating sites and targets for each site can easily be done with a bank of gauges that have the optimal operating points at 12 o'clock.
The human eye is great at pattern stripping, and any deviation of a gauge from the expected 12 position will quickly register with an operator and attract his attention. Using a colour background, or meter edge, will also indicate the sensitivity of a particular site.
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I am wondering how will the plotting work, for some of the targets which may have been achieved before time. E.g. for the month of Jul the target was 226 and the actual was 219. So the chart will show a deficit in meeting the target by 7 points but what if this 7 may have been completed earlier in month of June. So ideally it not a deficit.