parsing text with Text to Columns

This is one of those things that you just want to hit yourself on the head for not knowing earlier.

In Excel (yes, I still use excel) there is a Text to Columns Wizard that allows you to parse data by either fixed width or a defined delimiter.

In Excel 2011 Mac (gag), it is under Data --> Text to Columns.

PARSING BY FIXED WIDTH IN EXCEL!

This is especially useful for delimiting degrees, minutes, seconds. Use it with Search and Replace to do what you need to do.

It is really sad that I just learned this today.