Extract values from between characters

Still using Excel 2016??

OK. So this won't work (O365 only):

=TEXTSPLIT(TEXTBEFORE(TEXTAFTER(SUBSTITUTE(A2&":"," ","/"),"/",1),":",1),"/")+0

copied down. But this will:

=FILTERXML("<A><B>"&SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE($A2&" ",": ","/"),"/","</B><B>")&"</B></A>","//B["&COLUMNS($F2:F2)+1&"]")

Change the bit in red (careful with the $ signs) to whichever cell you paste it into... F2 in the attached file. This is an array formula and needs to be set by pressing CTRL-SHIFT and Enter, together. it can then be dragged across and dnown without any further issue.

A clearer explanation about array formulae.

You seem to be using an older version of Excel than me. The formulae will be enclosed within a pair of { }.

These are a little different from ordinary formulae in that they MUST be confirmed in the FIRST CELL ONLY by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER to activate the array, not just ENTER. After that, the array can be dragged down as normal, to cover the desired range.

You will know the array is active when you see the curly brackets { } appear around the outside of your formula. If you do not use CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER you will (almost always) get an error message or an incorrect answer. Press F2 on that cell and try again.

Don't type the curly brackets yourself - it won't work...

LoL. I forgot to highlight the red bit:

=FILTERXML("<A><B>"&SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE($A2&" ",": ","/"),"/","</B><B>")&"</B></A>","//B["&COLUMNS($F2:F2)+1&"]")

You're welcome. FILTERXML is brilliant for parsing strings. BUT it falls over if it finds certain characters... like &. There are, however, workarounds if it finds a forbidden character and falls over.