About
Use this tool to get a specific column from a delimited text. It works by splitting the list by comma, spaces, or any delimiter, grabs the only column that you want and deletes the rest. This is useful when you are trying to separate a concatenated list or when unmerging a single cell in a spreadsheet. You can extract any column as long as it follows the same format (using the same delimiter).
Delimiter
Delimiter is the character/s that separates each column. In the given example below, space is the delimiter.
Column1 Column2 Column3
Column1 Column2 Column3
Column1 Column2 Column3
Basic Example
Extract first names - column number 2, delimited by comma followed by space.
Collins, Maria Ann
Doe, John
Garcia, James
Smith, Nancy
Wright, Charles Henry
Young, Allen
Result
Maria Ann
John
James
Nancy
Charles Henry
Allen
To extract surnames instead of first names, extract column number 1 using a comma as a delimiter.
Revert Changes
Did you put the wrong column number and/or delimiter? No worries, you can use the undo/redo function under Edit button to reverse the extraction.
Related Tools
- Split Text - Split a text into individual columns or by a new line.
- Concatenate Text - Combine or merge two lists/columns line by line.
- Swap Columns - Swap two columns from a delimited text.
Pull one column from consistently separated text. Recover a list of names, codes, or values without copying every row manually.
How to use
Paste the rows, enter the exact delimiter, and choose the column number starting at 1. Extract and review missing values before reusing the result.
Example
For Ada;London and Sam;Paris, delimiter ; and column 2 return London and Paris.
FAQ
Does it parse quoted CSV fields?
No. It splits on the literal delimiter. Use the CSV tools for fields that contain quoted commas or embedded line breaks.
A practical task
Count columns from the first field, not from the first visible space. A delimiter made of two characters, such as comma plus space, must be entered exactly. Test a row with an empty field before assuming the selected position always contains a value.
Another useful question
What happens when the column is absent?
The row can produce an empty result. Check the source width instead of interpreting that blank as a confirmed missing value in the original data.
Details for interpreting the result
| Detail | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Literal separators | A literal separator is an exact sequence of characters, including any spaces. A comma and a comma followed by a space are different separators. Match the source consistently before extracting or exchanging fields. |
| Column headers | Headers provide names for columns; they are not extra data values. Keep their order aligned with each row. When building objects, duplicate header names create ambiguity about which value belongs to a key. |
