How to Split "Full Name" into "First Name" and "Last Name" in Microsoft Excel

If your .csv file contains a "Full Name" field instead of separate "First Name" and "Last Name" fields, it's recommended to split the column before importing the data into VanillaSoft. Follow these steps to split the "Full Name" column in Microsoft Excel. For instructions on how to split the data within Google Sheets, refer to the How to Split "Full Name" into "First Name" and "Last Name" in Google Sheets article. 

Steps to Split the "Full Name" Column

1. Open the File: Open your .csv file in Microsoft Excel.

2. Move the Full Name Column: Move the "Full Name" column to the farthest right column to make room for the split.

3. Highlight the Full Name Column: Click to highlight the "Full Name" column.

4. Access Text to Columns: Go to the Data tab and select Text to Columns.

5. Open the Excel Wizard: The Excel Text to Columns Wizard will open.

6. Choose Delimited: Select Delimited and click Next.

7. Select Delimiters: Check Space if your text is split with a space (e.g., John Smith) or check Comma if your text is split with a comma (e.g., Smith, John).

8. Set Text Qualifier: Choose {None} for the Text Qualifier and click Next.

9. Finish Splitting: Select Text as the column data format and click Finish.

By following these steps, you can effectively split the "Full Name" field into "First Name" and "Last Name" columns, making it easier to import the data into VanillaSoft. For instructions on how to import your spreadsheet into your VanillaSoft project, refer to the How to Import Contacts into VanillaSoft article.