Delimited Text Extractor

Our free online Delimited Text Extractor allows you to extract specific columns or fields from delimited text files such as CSV, TSV, and other delimiter-separated formats. This tool is perfect for data analysis, data cleaning, and extracting only the information you need from large datasets.

What is Delimited Text?

Delimited text is a format where data fields are separated by a specific character (delimiter). Common delimiters include:

Comma (,): Used in CSV (Comma-Separated Values) files
Tab (\\t): Used in TSV (Tab-Separated Values) files
Semicolon (;): Common in European CSV files
Pipe (|): Used in some database exports
Colon (:): Less common but sometimes used

How to Use the Tool

Enter Your Data: Paste your delimited text into the input field or use the sample data
Select Delimiter: Choose the delimiter that matches your data format (comma, tab, semicolon, etc.)
Choose Columns: The tool will automatically detect columns from the first row. Select which columns you want to extract
Extract: Click "Extract Columns" to generate the output with only the selected columns
Download: Use the download button to save the extracted data

Features

Multiple Delimiters: Support for comma, tab, semicolon, pipe, and colon delimiters
Column Selection: Easily select which columns to extract using checkboxes
Auto-Detection: Automatically detects columns from the first row of your data
Select All/Deselect All: Quick buttons to select or deselect all columns
Sample Data: Built-in sample data to help you get started
Download Output: Download the extracted data as a text file
Simple Interface: Clean and intuitive user interface

Use Cases

Data Analysis: Extract only relevant columns from large datasets for analysis
Data Cleaning: Remove unnecessary columns from your data files
CSV Processing: Extract specific fields from CSV files
Database Exports: Process and extract columns from database exports
Data Transformation: Prepare data for import into other systems
Report Generation: Extract only the columns needed for reports

Example

If you have a CSV file with columns: Name, Age, City, Country, Email, Phone

And you only need Name, City, and Country, you can:

Paste your CSV data
Select comma as the delimiter
Check only Name, City, and Country columns
Click Extract to get a new CSV with only those three columns

Tips for Best Results

Check Your Delimiter: Make sure you select the correct delimiter that matches your data
First Row as Header: The tool uses the first row to detect column names
Consistent Formatting: Ensure your data has consistent formatting for best results
Column Order: Extracted columns maintain their original order
Empty Fields: Empty fields in selected columns will appear as empty in the output

Frequently Asked Questions

What file formats does this tool support?

This tool supports any delimited text format, including CSV (comma-separated), TSV (tab-separated), and files using semicolon, pipe, or colon delimiters. As long as your data uses a consistent delimiter, the tool can process it.

Can I extract multiple columns at once?

Yes! You can select as many columns as you want to extract. Simply check the boxes next to the columns you need, and they will all be included in the output while maintaining their original order.

Does the tool preserve the original column order?

Yes, the extracted columns maintain their original order from the input data. If you select columns 1, 3, and 5, they will appear in that order in the output.

What happens if a column is empty?

Empty fields will appear as empty in the output, maintaining the delimiter structure. The tool preserves the original data structure, including empty fields.

Can I use this with large files?

The tool works best with data that can be pasted into the text area. For very large files, you may want to process them in smaller chunks or use specialized data processing software.

Does the tool handle quoted fields?

The tool processes delimited text based on the selected delimiter. For complex CSV files with quoted fields containing commas, you may need to ensure your data is properly formatted before extraction.

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