How to add text to all existing records in one column?

[usmleboy]

Hi Friends,

I have another question to ask. I had this problem many times - and do not
know how to solve it. Ok:

I have a column with information on patients blood samples, such as:

RA3453 ST
RA4322 TA

I have to add "OCT" to each record in this column in most simple way (there
are 18.000 records). The result for these samples should be like this:
OCT RA3453 ST
OCT RA4322 TA

Thanks in advance
Daniel (usmleboy)

 

[Dave Peterson]

If your data always starts with RA, then
select the column
Edit|Replace
what: RA
with: OCT RA
replace all.

If your prefix varies, I'd use another column and fill it full of formulas like:

="OCT " & a1
And drag down

Then edit|copy
edit|paste special|values
(over the original values)
and delete the helper column.

 

[Elkar]

There are a couple different ways to do this. The easiest would be to do a
FIND/REPLACE. If All of your data has the same format as below (All starts
with "RA"), then you could Find "RA?" and Replace with "OCT RA"

Otherwise, you could insert a new column and enter the formula:

="OCT " & A1 (Replace A1 with your cell reference)

Then copy it down through all your rows. After that, select all of the
cells in the new column and COPY. Then select your original column and PASTE
SPECIAL... Select "Values". Then delete the new column you added.

HTH,
Elkar

 

[pinmaster]

In a helper (blank) column put this:

="OCT "&B1

copy down or if the ajacent column has data all the way down with no
empty rows then double click on the black square in the bottom right
corner of the cell.

Another way might be to use the Replace function under the Edit menu,
but _*ONLY*_ and _*ONLY*_ if the entire column starts with RA and RA is
not found in any other part of your data....middle or end only at the
beginning.

replace what: RA
replace with: OCT RA
Save your data before attempting that.

HTH
JG

 

[Michael]

In a helper column, in say B2, type: ="OCT "&A2 assuming your data starts in
A2. Then copy down to capture all your cells. Finally, copy the cells in
column B and paste special-values onto column A. HTH