What Is Textbefore In Google Sheets?
The Textbefore in Google Sheets helps users to extract or retrieve specific strings, words, text, characters, etc., from a text input that might be a sentence, strings, phrases, idioms, etc. The Google Sheets Textbefore is performed using the REGEXEXTRACT function in Google Sheets to extract specified data.
For example, the dataset given below consists of “thoughts for the day” for two different dates. Let us extract the text before the string that fulfills a specific condition.
Select cell C2, enter the formula =REGEXEXTRACT(B2,”(.*)is.*”), press “Enter” and drag the formula from cell C2 to C3 using the fill handle, as shown below.
The output is shown above. The strings “Work” and “Time” is extracted from their respective cell values because they satisfy the condition, i.e. the strings before the selected string “is”.
Key Takeaways
- The Textbefore in Google Sheets checks the values for the given condition or criteria of the strings, words, characters or delimiters and extracts the textbefore the same as output.
- We can use the function in large datasets when we want to only extract certain data and project them. We can also locate such cell values easily.
- The function helps facilitating efficient decision-making processes based on specific criteria rather than sifting through vast amounts of irrelevant information.
- In MS Excel, to extract textbefore or textafter we use functions such as SEARCH(), FIND()+LEFT(), FIND()+RIGHT(),TRIM(), SUBSTITUTE(), MID(), etc, respectively. We can use the same functions in Google Sheets too. However, we have an exclusive function called the REGEXEXTRACT function in Google Sheets.
Syntax
In MS Excel, to extract textbefore or textafter we use functions such as SEARCH(), FIND()+LEFT(), FIND()+RIGHT(),TRIM(), SUBSTITUTE(), MID(), etc, respectively. We can use the same functions in Google Sheets too. However, we have an exclusive function to perform textbefore in Google Sheets that is not there in MS Excel, the REGEXEXTRACT function in Google Sheets and use the samein this article.
The syntax of the REGEXEXTRACT Formula in Google Sheets is,
The mandatory arguments of the REGEXEXTRACT Formula in Google Sheets are,
- text: It is the cell value from which the string is extracted.
- regular_expression: It is the string, character or word that acts as a condition and the textbefore that satisfies the criteria will be extracted.
How To Use Textbefore In Google Sheets?
We can use the REGEXEXTRACT Google Sheets Function to extract the Textbefore In Google Sheets in two ways, as follows:
- Access from the Google Sheets ribbon.
- Enter the formula in the worksheet manually.
Method #1 – Access from the Google Sheets ribbon
Step 1: Choose an empty cell for the output – select the “Insert” tab – click the “Function” option right arrow – click the “Text” option right arrow – select the “REGEXEXTRACT” function, as shown below.
Step 2: The “REGEXEXTRACT” formulaappears, as shown below. Enter the argument as cell reference.
Method #2 – Enter the formula in the worksheet manually
Step 1: Select an empty cell for the output.
Step 2: Type =REGEXEXTRACT( in the cell, as shown below. [Alternatively, type =R or =REG and double-click the REGEXEXTRACT from the Google Sheets suggestions.]
Step 3: Enter the arguments as cell values or cell references and close the brackets.
Step 4: Press Enter to view the outcome.
Examples
Let us consider some of the Textbefore in Google Sheets examples and extract the required string using the REGEXEXTRACT function in Google Sheets.
Example #1 – Extract text before character
Let us Extract text before character in the given dataset that consists of the data where the students are good at some subjects. The character we have as a condition is “good”, as inserted in column B.
The steps to Extract text before character using the REGEXEXTRACT function are,
Step 1: Select cell C2. Enter the formula =REGEXEXTRACT(A2,”(.*)good.*”), as shown below.
Step 2: Press “Enter”, to get the first output.
Step 3: Drag the formula from cell C2 to C5 using the fill handle. It is to extract the text before the character, as shown below.
Example #2 – Extract text before string
Let us Extract text before string in the given dataset that consists of the data of some expressing questions. The string we have as a condition is “Wh”, as displayed in column B.
The steps to Extract text before string using the REGEXEXTRACT function are,
Step 1: Select cell C2, enter the formula =REGEXEXTRACT(A2,”(.*)Wh.*”) and press “Enter”,as shown below.
Step 2: Drag the formula from cell C2 to C7 using the fill handle to extract the textbefore the string, as shown below.
The output is shown above. All the cells have returned the textbefore the selected string, except for cells C6 and C7. The reason is,
- The C6 cells reference does not have the string “Wh”.
- In the C7 cells reference, the string is at the start of the sentence and there is not text before that. Hence, it is returned as empty or blank indicating that there is no textbefore the selected string.
Example #3 – Extract text before word
Let us Extract text before word in the given dataset that consists of the data where we have some words or set of words. The word we have as a condition is “Web”, as inserted in column B.
The steps to Extract text before word using the REGEXEXTRACT function are,
Step 1: Select cell C2, enter the formula =REGEXEXTRACT(A2,”(.*)Web.*”) and press “Enter”, as shown below.
Step 2: Drag the formula from cell C2 to C6 using the fill handle, to get the following output.
Example #4 – Extract text before Nth delimiter
Let us Extract text before Nth delimiter in the given dataset that consists of the data of designations in a firm with their names. The delimiter we have as a condition is “–”, as displayed in column B.
The steps to Extract text before Nth delimiter using the REGEXEXTRACT function are,
Step 1: To extract textbefore 1st delimiter, select cell C2, enter the formula =REGEXEXTRACT(A2,”(.*)-.*-.*”) and press “Enter”, as shown below.
Step 2: Drag the formula from cell C2 to C8 using the fill handle, to get the output, as shown below.
Step 3: To extract textbefore 2nd delimiter, select cell D2, enter the formula =REGEXEXTRACT(A2,”(.*)-.*”) and press “Enter”, as shown below.
Step 4: Drag the formula from cell D2 to D8 using the fill handle, to get the output, as shown below.
In a similar way we can extract till the Nth delimiter by just adding the delimiters as -.-.-. in the formula.
Important Things To Note
- The REGEXEXTRACT function returns a blank or an empty cell if there is no textbefore the selected string.
- If a cell value does not have the selected string or word, then we get the “#NA” error.
- When we get the autofill suggestion from Google Sheets, we can use that because it is an actual alternative of the drag using the fill handle option.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Textbefore in Google Sheets isn’t working because of the following reasons:
a. The argument values or cell reference does not have selected string, word or character.
b. The cell values contain additional space characters or is of incorrect data type.
c. The cell range selected is modified or deleted.
We often forget in which category a function falls, here, the “REGEXEXTRACT” function. Then, we can insert the function as follows:
Choose an empty cell – select the “Insert” tab – click the “Function” option right arrow – click the “All” option right arrow – select the “REGEXEXTRACT” function, as shown below.
However, as always, entering the function manually is the best way to avoid confusion.
Alternatively, we can find the Functions icon to insert the REGEXEXTRACT in Google Sheets by following the path shown below.
• Choose an empty cell – click the “More” option represented by the three vertical dots at the end of the toolbar, as shown below.
A list of icons appears when we click the “More” option. Here, click the “Functions” icon, as shown below.
Here, click the “Functions” option – click the “All” option right arrow – select the “REGEXEXTRACT” function, as shown below.
Download Template
This article must be helpful to understand the Textbefore in Google Sheets, with its formula and examples. You can download the template here to use it instantly.
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Guide to What Is Textbefore In Google Sheets. We learn how to extract specific text using REGEXEXTRACT along with its syntax and examples. You can learn more from the following articles.
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