Removing asterisks in Excel can be a breeze if you know a few simple steps. By using the “Find and Replace” feature, or employing a bit of formula magic, you can quickly clear those pesky asterisks from your spreadsheet. This guide will walk you through both methods, making sure you understand each step so you can apply it easily.
How to Remove Asterisk in Excel
In the following steps, you’ll learn how to remove asterisks from your Excel worksheet. By the end, you’ll be able to clean up your data effortlessly.
Step 1: Open Your Excel File
First off, make sure you have your Excel file open. This is the file that has the asterisks you want to remove.
Once your file is open, navigate to the worksheet that contains the data with the asterisks.
Step 2: Select the Data Range
Highlight the range of cells that contain the asterisks. You can do this by clicking and dragging your mouse over the cells.
If the asterisks are scattered all over, you might want to select the entire column or even the whole worksheet to ensure you don’t miss any.
Step 3: Open Find and Replace
Press "Ctrl+H" on your keyboard to open the "Find and Replace" dialog box. This is where the magic happens.
This shortcut takes you directly to the "Replace" tab, saving you a bit of time and effort.
Step 4: Enter the Asterisk
In the "Find what" field, type in "". You need to enclose the asterisk in brackets like this: [].
This tells Excel that you specifically want to find the asterisks in your selected range.
Step 5: Leave Replace With Blank
Leave the "Replace with" field empty. This is crucial because leaving it empty instructs Excel to replace the asterisks with nothing.
After this, click on the "Replace All" button to perform the replacement on the entire selected range.
Step 6: Confirm the Replacement
A dialog box will appear, informing you how many replacements were made. Click "OK" to confirm.
This final step ensures you know exactly how many asterisks were removed, giving you a clear idea of the change.
Once you’ve completed these steps, all the asterisks in your selected range will be removed. You’ll have a cleaner dataset to work with.
Tips for Removing Asterisk in Excel
- Always make a backup of your data before making mass changes.
- Use the asterisk with caution, as it’s also a wildcard character in Excel.
- If using formulas, try the SUBSTITUTE function for more control.
- Double-check the "Replace with" field is empty to avoid replacing with unwanted characters.
- Use "Ctrl+Z" to quickly undo if something goes wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions about Removing Asterisk in Excel
Can I remove asterisks from specific columns only?
Absolutely, just highlight the specific columns before performing the find and replace.
What if the asterisks are part of the text I want to keep?
You will need to be more precise. Use the SUBSTITUTE function to replace only the asterisks, not the entire text.
Is there a way to preview the changes before applying?
Unfortunately, Excel doesn’t offer a preview for Find and Replace changes. Double-check your settings before applying.
Can I use this method for other special characters?
Yes, you can use the same steps to remove other special characters by entering them in the "Find what" field.
What if the asterisks are used as wildcards?
If asterisks are used as wildcards, enclosing them in brackets [*] tells Excel to treat them as literal characters.
Summary
- Open your Excel file.
- Select the data range.
- Open Find and Replace with "Ctrl+H".
- Enter the asterisk [*] in the "Find what" field.
- Leave the "Replace with" field blank.
- Confirm the replacement.
Conclusion
And there you have it! Removing asterisks in Excel is straightforward once you know the steps. Whether you’re clearing up data for a report or just trying to make your spreadsheet look neater, these techniques will get the job done quickly and efficiently. Don’t forget to make a backup of your data before making any large-scale changes, and always double-check your work to ensure accuracy.
For further reading, consider exploring other Excel tips and tricks. Knowing how to use advanced features can save you loads of time and make you more efficient in your daily tasks. Happy Excel-ing!
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.