How to split 'Firstname Lastname' into 2 columns 'First' and 'Last'?

Question

I import a .csv file from PayPal that throws the customer's First name, MI and Last Name all in one column. I have no problem going through and deleting the middle initial to make just two words separated with a space.
How can I split the First and Last names that are separated by a space into two separate columns? It's a piece of cake in Excel, but for some stupid reason, I can't use Excel 08 for Mac to do it. Keeps saying that there is data in column #XX without a heading (there is no data there) when I try to import to PayPal Multi-order shipping.
Please help! I'm desperate. Taking me for ever to cut and past each last name into the new column.
Thanks for any help with this!
Marcus

Answer 1

Here is a script which does the trick.
--[SCRIPT splitfirst_lastname]
Enregistrer le script en tant que Script ou Application : splitfirst_lastname.xxx
déplacer le fichier ainsi créé dans le dossier
<VolumeDeDémarrage>:Users:<votreCompte>:Library:Scripts:Applications:Numbers:
Il vous faudra peut-être créer le dossier Numbers et peut-être même le dossier Applications.
Sélectionner la colonne de chaînes à découper (et éventuellement davantage pour définir la colonne recevant les noms propres).
Aller au menu Scripts , choisir Numbers puis choisir splitfirst_lastname
Le script découpe les chaînes sources au premier espace.
Le prénom remplace la chaîne initiale.
Le reste est déposé dans la cellule adjacente à droite ou dans la cellule de la denière colonne sélectionnée.
--=====
L'aide du Finder explique:
L'Utilitaire AppleScript permet d'activer le Menu des scripts :
Ouvrez l'Utilitaire AppleScript situé dans le dossier Applications/AppleScript.
Cochez la case "Afficher le menu des scripts dans la barre de menus".
Sous 10.6.x,
aller dans le panneau "Général" du dialogue Préférences de l'Éditeur Applescript
puis cocher la case "Afficher le menu des scripts dans la barre des menus".
--=====
Save the script as a Script or an Application : splitfirst_lastname.xxx
Move the newly created file into the folder:
<startup Volume>:Users:<yourAccount>:Library:Scripts:Applications:Numbers:
Maybe you would have to create the folder Numbers and even the folder Applications by yourself.
Select a column of strings to split (and maybe more columns to define the column receiving lastNames).
Go to the Scripts Menu, choose Numbers, then choose "splitfirst_lastname"
The script split the source strings on the first embedded space.
The FirstName replace the original string.
The reminder is stored in the cell adjacent on the right (or in the last column of the selected range.
--=====
The Finder's Help explains:
To make the Script menu appear:
Open the AppleScript utility located in Applications/AppleScript.
Select the "Show Script Menu in menu bar" checkbox.
Under 10.6.x,
go to the General panel of AppleScript Editor’s Preferences dialog box
and check the “Show Script menu in menu bar” option.
--=====
Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France)
2011/02/23
--=====
on run
run script doyourduty
end run
--=====
script doyourduty
set {dName, sName, tName, rname, rowNum1, colNum1, rowNum2, colNum2} to my getSelParams()
if colNum2 = colNum1 then set colNum2 to colNum1 + 1
tell application "Numbers" to tell document dName to tell sheet sName to tell table tName
repeat with r from rowNum1 to rowNum2
tell row r
set first_last to value of cell colNum1
if (first_last is not 0.0) and first_last contains space then
set in_pieces to my decoupe(first_last, space)
set value of cell colNum1 to item 1 of in_pieces
set value of cell colNum2 to my recolle(items 2 thru -1 of in_pieces, space)
end if
end tell -- row
end repeat
end tell -- Numbers
end script
--=====
set {rowNum1, colNum1, rowNum2, colNum2} to my getCellsAddresses(dname,s_name,t_name,arange)
on getCellsAddresses(d_Name, s_Name, t_Name, r_Name)
local two_Names, row_Num1, col_Num1, row_Num2, col_Num2
tell application "Numbers"
set d_Name to name of document d_Name (* useful if we passed a number *)
tell document d_Name
set s_Name to name of sheet s_Name (* useful if we passed a number *)
tell sheet s_Name
set t_Name to name of table t_Name (* useful if we passed a number *)
end tell -- sheet
end tell -- document
end tell -- Numbers
if r_Name contains ":" then
set two_Names to my decoupe(r_Name, ":")
set {row_Num1, col_Num1} to my decipher(d_Name, s_Name, t_Name, item 1 of two_Names)
if item 2 of two_Names = item 1 of two_Names then
set {row_Num2, col_Num2} to {row_Num1, col_Num1}
else
set {row_Num2, col_Num2} to my decipher(d_Name, s_Name, t_Name, item 2 of two_Names)
end if
else
set {row_Num1, col_Num1} to my decipher(d_Name, s_Name, t_Name, r_Name)
set {row_Num2, col_Num2} to {row_Num1, col_Num1}
end if -- r_Name contains…
return {row_Num1, col_Num1, row_Num2, col_Num2}
end getCellsAddresses
--=====
set { dName, sName, tName, rname, rowNum1, colNum1, rowNum2, colNum2} to my getSelParams()
on getSelParams()
local r_Name, t_Name, s_Name, d_Name
set {d_Name, s_Name, t_Name, r_Name} to my getSelection()
if r_Name is missing value then
if my parleAnglais() then
error "No selected cells"
else
error "Il n'y a pas de cellule sélectionnée !"
end if
end if
return {d_Name, s_Name, t_Name, r_Name} & my getCellsAddresses(d_Name, s_Name, t_Name, r_Name)
end getSelParams
--=====
set {rowNumber, columnNumber} to my decipher(docName,sheetName,tableName,cellRef)
apply to named row or named column !
on decipher(d, s, t, n)
tell application "Numbers" to tell document d to tell sheet s to tell table t to ¬
return {address of row of cell n, address of column of cell n}
end decipher
--=====
set { d_Name, s_Name, t_Name, r_Name} to my getSelection()
on getSelection()
local _, theRange, theTable, theSheet, theDoc, errMsg, errNum
tell application "Numbers" to tell document 1
repeat with i from 1 to the count of sheets
tell sheet i
set x to the count of tables
if x > 0 then
repeat with y from 1 to x
try
(selection range of table y) as text
on error errMsg number errNum
set {_, theRange, _, theTable, _, theSheet, _, theDoc} to my decoupe(errMsg, quote)
return {theDoc, theSheet, theTable, theRange}
end try
end repeat -- y
end if -- x>0
end tell -- sheet
end repeat -- i
end tell -- document
return {missing value, missing value, missing value, missing value}
end getSelection
--=====
on parleAnglais()
local z
try
tell application "Numbers" to set z to localized string "Cancel"
on error
set z to "Cancel"
end try
return (z is not "Annuler")
end parleAnglais
--=====
on decoupe(t, d)
local oTIDs, l
set oTIDs to AppleScript's text item delimiters
set AppleScript's text item delimiters to d
set l to text items of t
set AppleScript's text item delimiters to oTIDs
return l
end decoupe
--=====
on recolle(l, d)
local oTIDs, t
set oTIDs to AppleScript's text item delimiters
set AppleScript's text item delimiters to d
set t to l as text
set AppleScript's text item delimiters to oTIDs
return t
end recolle
--=====
--[/SCRIPT]
Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France) mercredi 23 février 2011 10:18:36