Remove Asterisk from Excel Sheets Easily - Quick Guide

Ever found yourself needing to clean up large datasets in Excel but got bogged down by the asterisks? Excel is an incredibly versatile tool for data manipulation, yet its default settings often include features like AutoCorrect or formatting options that can introduce unwanted symbols into your data. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through several methods to remove asterisks from your Excel sheets, optimizing for both efficiency and accuracy.

Understanding Why Asterisks Appear in Excel

Before diving into the solutions, let’s quickly understand why asterisks might be appearing in your data:

• Data Entry Errors: Sometimes, the asterisk might be inadvertently entered.
• Formatting Issues: Excel’s number formatting can sometimes add symbols like asterisks to represent specific types of data.
• AutoCorrect: This feature might replace certain inputs with asterisks based on pre-set rules.

Method 1: Using Find and Replace

One of the simplest and most widely known methods to remove unwanted characters in Excel is using the Find and Replace feature:

1. Open your Excel workbook.
2. Select the worksheet or cells where you want to remove the asterisks.
3. Press Ctrl + H to open the Find and Replace dialog box.
4. In the ‘Find what’ field, enter an asterisk (*).
5. Leave the ‘Replace with’ field empty or put a space if you need spacing where the asterisks were.
6. Click on ‘Replace All’.
7. Review the changes, then click ‘Close’ to complete the operation.

⚠️ Note: Be cautious if your data contains legitimate asterisks that you wish to keep.

Method 2: Using Formulas

If you’re comfortable with Excel formulas, you can create a custom formula to strip asterisks from text:

=SUBSTITUTE(A1,“*”,“”)

Here’s how:

1. Enter the formula in the first cell next to your data.
2. Drag the fill handle to apply this formula to the rest of the cells in the column.
3. If you need to replace the original data with this formula result, you can copy these cells, then paste values back into the original cells.

Method 3: With Text to Columns

The ‘Text to Columns’ feature can also help you remove asterisks:

1. Select the range of cells containing the asterisks.
2. Go to the Data tab, then select ‘Text to Columns’.
3. Choose ‘Delimited’ and click ‘Next’.
4. In the delimiter options, deselect all and check ‘Other’, then type in an asterisk (*).
5. Click ‘Next’, choose where to output the data (you might want to output to a new column), then ‘Finish’.

🚫 Note: This method will split your data wherever the asterisks are found. Use it when your data does not contain intentional asterisks as separators.

Method 4: VBA Macro

For frequent clean-up tasks, consider using a VBA macro:

Sub RemoveAsterisks()
    Dim rng As Range
    Set rng = Selection
    rng.Replace What:=“*”, Replacement:=“”, LookAt:=xlPart
End Sub

To use this macro:

1. Open VBA Editor by pressing Alt + F11.
2. Go to Insert > Module, then paste the above code.
3. Run the macro by selecting the range, then pressing Alt + F8, choosing your macro, and clicking ‘Run’.

Considerations for Data Integrity

Before making widespread changes:

• Back up your data: Always have a copy of your original data in case something goes wrong.
• Check for intended asterisks: Ensure that the asterisks you are removing are not essential for your dataset’s meaning.

By following these methods, you can efficiently remove unwanted asterisks from your Excel sheets. Each method has its own advantages, depending on your comfort level with Excel features and the size and nature of your dataset. Whether you prefer quick and easy solutions like Find and Replace, or more complex ones like VBA macros, Excel provides versatile tools to ensure your data remains clean and accurate.

By mastering these techniques, you'll enhance your data management skills, streamline your workflow, and improve the overall quality of your spreadsheets. Remember, practice and understanding your data's requirements will guide you to choose the most effective method for your situation.

How do I remove an asterisk from specific cells without affecting others?

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To remove an asterisk from specific cells, select those cells, then use the Find and Replace method as outlined above, or use the SUBSTITUTE formula targeting only those cells.

Can these methods remove other unwanted characters from Excel?

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Yes, the Find and Replace, formulas like SUBSTITUTE, and even VBA macros can be modified to remove or replace any unwanted character from Excel spreadsheets.

Is there a way to automatically prevent asterisks from appearing in my Excel sheets?

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While Excel’s AutoCorrect can be adjusted to prevent unwanted symbols from being inserted, it’s often better to manage this manually as some auto-correction can be useful. However, you can turn off or customize AutoCorrect settings for specific characters under File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options.