Messy, unstructured data.

It slows reporting, creates errors, and tests everyone's patience. Right?

This episode breaks down how the new Regular Expressions (REGEX) work and how they help you find patterns in unstructured text, from email addresses to dates and hidden white space.

You will learn:

• what REGEX is and why it matters for accountants and analysts

• how to use REGEXEXTRACT, REGEXTEST and REGEXREPLACE

• when to combine REGEXTEST with FILTER for smarter analysis

• how REGEX now works inside XLOOKUP and XMATCH

• ways to manage white space and non-standard characters

• why building a reusable pattern library will save time.

Programmers have been using REGEX patterns for decades, but they've only just come to Excel.

The good news is Excel's new REGEX functions give finance teams a practical way to take back control.

Listen now to help improve your Excel skills.

Host: Neale Blackwood CPA. He has more than 20 years of experience as a Microsoft Excel educator and is the author of more than 200 INTHEBLACK articles as well as a book, Advanced Excel Reporting for Management Accountants.

For more, check out the accompanying YouTube video of this episode.

Read more of Neale's Excel articles on INTHEBLACK.

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CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting:

With Interest

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Excel Tips

INTHEBLACK Out Loud

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