WPS Sheets Collaboration Mode Text to Columns Feature Guide

Feature Summary

The Text to Columns feature is used to split the content of a single cell in a collaborative spreadsheet into multiple adjacent columns based on delimiters, or to convert text-formatted data into a specified format, helping teams organize data efficiently.

Feature Description

Feature Dimension	Description
Membership Restriction	No membership restriction
Version Restriction	No version restriction

Operation Steps

Feature Entry

"Data" tab → "Text to Columns" button

1. Select the column data you need to split (ensure there are enough blank columns to the right of the target column to receive the split results)
2. Click the "Text to Columns" button in the Data tab
3. The "Text to Columns" dialog box will pop up, complete the setup in two steps

Step 1: Set Delimiters

Feature Entry
Text to Columns dialog box → Delimiter selection area

1. Locate the "Delimiters (used for splitting data)" area in the dialog box
2. Check the delimiter(s) actually used in the data:

• ☑ Tab: Separate by tab character
• ☑ Semicolon: Separate by semicolon ;
• ☑ Comma: Separate by comma ,
• ☑ Space: Separate by space
• ☑ Other: Enter a custom delimiter in the input box on the right

3. Check "Treat consecutive delimiters as one", multiple consecutive delimiters will be treated as a single one (to avoid splitting out extra empty columns)
4. The data preview area will display the split effect in real time
5. After completing the settings, click "Next" to proceed to Step 2, or click "Finish" directly to execute

Step 2: Set Column Data Format and Destination

Feature Entry
Text to Columns dialog box → Column data format selection + Destination input box

1. Click to select a column in the "Data Preview" area to set its data format individually
2. Select a format in the "Column data format" area:

• General: Automatically recognize data format (default option)
• Text: Force convert the column data to text format
• Date: Convert the column data to date format, select a specific arrangement format (e.g., YMD) from the dropdown on the right
• Do not import column (skip): The data in this column will not be imported to the destination

3. Confirm or modify the output location in the "Destination" input box. You can type manually or click the icon on the right to select a target cell
4. Click "Back" to return to Step 1 to modify delimiter settings
5. After confirming everything is correct, click "Finish" to execute the split

FAQ

Q1: What should I do if data on the right is overwritten after splitting?

• Solution: Text to Columns outputs to the destination area and may overwrite data on the right. Before operating, please confirm that the "Destination" setting is correct. If data has been overwritten, immediately press Ctrl+Z to undo the operation and restore it.

Q2: Will the Text to Columns operation affect other collaborators in collaboration mode?

• Solution: Yes, the split results will directly modify the data and sync to the cloud in real time. It is recommended to communicate and confirm with the team before operating, or perform the operation on a copy of the file and then paste the results back.

Notes

• Text to Columns outputs to the destination area. Before operating, confirm that the destination area has enough blank columns.
• The Text to Columns operation will overwrite the original data in the destination area. It is recommended to back up your data before operating.
• "Treat consecutive delimiters as one" is very useful when processing irregular text data, as it can avoid splitting out extra empty columns.