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Excel formula to pull data between two delimiters in cell with multiple delimiters


You can use this formula to pull data between any two of multiple delimiters in a single cell in Excel.

=MID(A2,FIND(CHAR(1),SUBSTITUTE(A2,"|",CHAR(1),4))+1,(FIND(CHAR(1),SUBSTITUTE(A2,"|",CHAR(1),5))-FIND(CHAR(1),SUBSTITUTE(A2,"|",CHAR(1),4)))

Enter the relative position of the delimiter in front of the value you want to pull at the end of the first SUBSTITUTE formula; the delimiter which comes after this value at the end of the second SUBSTITUTE formula, and then enter the position of the delimiter in front at the end of the third SUBSTITUTE formula.

This formula can be helpful when you're parsing out of a lot of delimiters and want to avoid splitting data into too many columns with the Text to Columns tool.

So, in this example the value 'Dublin' appears between the 4th and 5th instances of the | pipe delimiter.


Sean O'Shea has more than 20 years of experience in the litigation support field with major law firms in New York and San Francisco.   He is an ACEDS Certified eDiscovery Specialist and a Relativity Certified Administrator.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the owner and do not reflect the views or opinions of the owner’s employer.

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