This is CRAZY!!!. I stumbled on a weird use for FILTERXML() while reading a forum post earlier today. So I couldn’t wait to test it. I am happy to share the results.
Say you have some text (sentence / phrase / keyword etc.) in a cell and you want to extract the nth word. Unfortunately Excel doesn’t have SPLIT() formula. So we end up writing obscenely long array formulas or use gazillion helper columns.
Here is the super sneaky trick. Use FILTERXML() instead.
See this example
How to extract words from sentence with FILTERXML
Say you have a long sentence (or keyword phrase) in cell C3.
Step 1: Convert this to valid XML
This sounds complicated that it is. All you need to do is prefix, insert and suffix some tags. Like this:
="<DATA><A>"& SUBSTITUTE(C3, " ", "</A><A>") & "</A></DATA>"
This will turn C3 in to a valid XML block with each word as <A> node.
Step 2: Use FILTERXML on this to extract words
Now that we have valid XML, you can say =FILTERXML(C5, “/DATA/A[3]”)
to extract the 3rd word from our XML converted sentence.
Step 3: There are no more steps. Enjoy FILTERXML.
Bonus trick: Use [last()] to get the last word. For example, =FILTERXML(C5, “/DATA/A[last()]”) will get you the last word from sentence.
Watch this – how to extract words with FILTERXML() in Excel
I was so excited to learn about this that I recorded a video in my robe. Rated A (for awesomeness), Do check it out below or on my YouTube page.
Download example workbook
Click here to download the example file for this tip. Play with FILTERXML to learn more.
Learn more about XML & XPATH
If you want to learn how XML and Xpath work, check out these pages.
- Xpath cheatsheet – devhints
- Xpath examples – w3 Schools
What if you can’t use FILTERXML?
FILTERXML works in Excel 2013 or above. But if you are using an older version of Excel or Excel for Mac, then you can’t rely on this method. Check out below two examples to learn other ways to split and extract words from sentences.
Do you FILTERXML for splitting or something else …?
I almost never use FILTERXML unless I am calculating distance between points or calling a webservice. But this use of splitting text is fun. Big thanks to GraH for posting this in the forum.
What about you? Have you used FILTERXML for any other out of box situations? Please share in the comments. Pretty please with sprinkles of conditional formatting icons on top 🙂
22 Responses to “Master Excel 2007 Ribbon with this Free Learning Guide”
Thank you, kind sir. Well done with the baby making.
I cannot get signed up for your newsletter. I tied both this email address and churchill2001@hotmail.com. never a response.
I cannot get signed up for your newsletter. I tied both this email address and churchill2001_at_hotmail_dot_com. never a response for either attempt.
@Doug, it shows that your email address is pending verification. Can you check your inbox (and may be spam folder too) for an email from me? The subject will be "Activate Subscription to Get your Free Excel Tips E-book"
[...] PPS: If you are struggling with ribbon, you should check out ribbon learning guide. [...]
Very Useful Info..Keep it up..
@Ajay.. you are welcome 🙂
how do u download microsoft excel for free?
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/default.aspx
Select Office
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I can't open this pdf. I get the error message:
You do not have the required license to open this file.
Please request a license from the creator of the file, and add it using the license manager and they try opening it again.
What gives??
I downloaded the file again and it worked this time. Strange. (First file was 116 KB, second was 1644 KB... ???)
[...] More ribbon goodness | Free e-book to learn Excel Ribbon [...]
Hi Chandoo,
thanks for sharing your Excel 2007 learning experience with us; unfortunately the link to the pdf of the free Excel 2007 learning guide seems broken: my Acrobate Readers flags: "Unkown file type or corrupte data".
Have a nice day
Michael
well done this is great
Can somebody just provide a link the classic TAB exportedUI files for MS Office 2003 for us to use in office 2007/2010?. searching online, everybody just wnats to make a buck online with silly Classic Tab installers which do nothing more than inport exportedUI files for you.
Don't give me a ribbon how to guide, just give me free exportedUI files. I should not have to pay anyone for this, it is free XML, MS should have included this to begin with.
thanks
Dear.
There are a set of debit values and a set ot credit values in a column. I want a vba code by whcich the debit value plus a single / multiple credit value is zero that needs to be marked .
finally i will come to know out of the avaibale debits which cannot be used the with avilable credits either single or multiple values.
If multiple matching sets are available let it take the 1st or the 2nd one its not an issue.
Column A Ref
-1000 A
-5000 B
-8000 C
800 A
100 A
100 A
2000 B
3000 B
13000
15000
hi...
how to make this add-ins and display in ribbon... check this sample : http://www.cprsoft.com/GCDemo01.htm
thank you sir...
Please tell me format painter short cut key In excel ?
Thanks In Advance
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