10.12. Using Common Functions in Google Sheets: Text Manipulation
Electronic spreadsheets, such as Google Sheets, are incredibly powerful tools for managing data and information. They not only facilitate the calculation and analysis of numbers through functions such as SUM and AVERAGE, but they also offer a range of text manipulation functions that can be extremely useful in data processing and organization. Among these functions, LEFT, RIGHT and EXT.TEXT stand out.
LEFT function
The LEFT function is used to extract a certain number of characters from a string, starting at the beginning (on the left). The format of the function is LEFT(text; [number_of_characters]), where "text" is the string you want to extract characters from and "number_of_characters" is the number of characters you want to extract.< /p>
=LEFT(A1; 5)
If A1 contains "Sheet", the formula returns "Sheet". If the number of characters is not specified, the function will assume it is 1 and return only the first character.
RIGHT function
In a complementary way, the RIGHT function allows you to extract characters from the end (to the right) of a string. The format is RIGHT(text; [number_of_characters]). As with LEFT, if the number of characters is not specified, only the last character will be extracted.
=RIGHT(A1; 3)
If A1 contains "Sheet", the formula returns "lha".
EXT.TEXT function
The EXT.TEXT function is more flexible, allowing you to extract a sequence of characters from any part of a string. The syntax is EXT.TEXT(text; start_position; [number_of_characters]). "initial_position" refers to the location where extraction should begin, and "number_of_characters" indicates how many characters should be extracted from that position.
=EXT.TEXT(A1; 3; 4)
If A1 contains "Spreadsheet", the result will be "indigo", starting from the third character and taking the next four characters.
Practical Applications
These text manipulation functions are particularly useful in several situations, such as:
- Extract specific information from text strings, such as codes or unique identifiers.
- Process data imported from other systems that may have an inconsistent format.
- Prepare data for reports, where only part of the information is relevant.
- Cleanse and organize large volumes of textual data.
For example, imagine you have a column of product codes where the first three characters represent the product category and the last three are the unique identifier. You can use LEFT and RIGHT to separate this information into separate columns for easier analysis.
Combination with Other Functions
Additionally, these text functions can be combined with other Google Sheets functions to create more complex and powerful formulas. For example, you can use SEARCH to find the position of a specific character and then use EXT.TEXT to extract the information around that character.
=EXT.TEXT(A1; SEARCH("-"; A1) + 1; 5)
This formula looks for the position of the "-" character in A1 and extracts the next five characters, which is useful if you are working with text strings that contain delimiters.
Important Considerations
When working with these functions, it is important to remember that they are character sensitive. Spaces, for example, are counted as characters. Therefore, if you are extracting information from inconsistently formatted strings, you may need to use additional functions such as TIM to remove extra spaces before or after the text.
Another point to consider is that, when handling sensitive or complex data, precision is essential. Always check the results of your formulas to ensure they are correct. Testing with different data scenarios can help identify potential errors in formulas.
Conclusion
In summary, mastering the text manipulation functions in Google Sheets is a valuable skill for anyone working with data in spreadsheets. With LEFT, RIGHT and EXT.TEXT, you can extract and organize information effectively, transforming raw data into valuable insights. Practice these functions and explore their combinations to get the most out of Google Sheets.
