Extract Text Between 2 Dash "-" Symbols

[mstark17]

So what I'm trying to do is have a formula that can extract text that's separated by a "-" symbol. For example, I will receive an email with the subject line "Project - Location - Description" the problem is that the project/location is not always the same length of text so I cant use a middle, left, or right formula. What I need is a formula that starts and stops with the use of a "-" sign. I've attached an example below of what I would like it to do.

Input Subject	Output (What I want)
ProjectA - New York City, NY - Expiration Date	New York City, NY
Project123 - Orlando, FL - Closing Date	Orlando, FL

How can I do this? Bonus points if you can apply it to the beginning project or end description as well. Any help would be appreciated!

[alansidman]

Can be quickly achieved with Power Query/Get and Transform Data found on the Data Tab of the Ribbon

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Power Query is a free AddIn for Excel 2010 and 2013, and is built-in functionality from Excel 2016 onwards (where it is referred to as "Get & Transform Data").

It is a powerful yet simple way of getting, changing and using data from a broad variety of sources, creating steps which may be easily repeated and refreshed. I strongly recommend learning how to use Power Query - it's among the most powerful functionalities of Excel.

- Follow this link to learn how to install Power Query in Excel 2010 / 2013.

- Follow this link for an introduction to Power Query functionality.

- Follow this link for a video which demonstrates how to use Power Query code provided.

[MrShorty]

At the risk of angering an Excel community, but I think Google Sheets' SPLIT() function is appropriate for this task. =INDEX(SPLIT(text,"-"),2) will return the middle text. If you want all three, just enter =SPLIT(text,"-") and Sheets will output all three parts of the text.

[GeoffW283]

Bonus points if you can apply it to the beginning project or end description as well. Any help would be appreciated!

I'll go for the bonus points with an old fashioned solution
split.png

Please try the following in B2 copied across to col-D then down as far as you need.

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[romperstomper]

Couldn't you just use Text to columns (using Delimited option, and specifying the dash as the delimiter) to separate all three out?

[mstark17]

Thanks everyone, @GeoffW283 & @alansidman. I've gotten both of your solutions to work. Just need to figure out which one works best for my application of them. Thanks

[TMS]

Late to the party but, as you have Office 365, you could use FILTERXML:

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[alansidman]

If that takes care of your original question, please select Thread Tools from the menu link above and mark this thread as SOLVED.

Also, you may not be aware that you can thank those who have helped you by clicking the small star icon located in the lower left corner of the post in which the help was given. By doing so you can add to the reputation(s) of those who helped.

[GeoffW283]

mstark17: Thanks for the feedback and rep!