How to Extract Numbered Lists out of Documents to Summarize

Excel Example: Extract Numbered List From a Document

I was looking at this post and wanted to extract the list to make a summary. I didn’t want all the explanation of each point, just a list of the numbered points.

I figured I would show you one way I do this with Excel. This would be more of a time-saver when you’ve got a bigger list.

I use Windows, by the way.

1. Copy the entire text of the article and paste into Notepad. Now Select-all (CTRL+A) and copy (CTRL+C). This is to get rid of formatting so we have plain text.

2. Open Excel. Paste in cell A1.

3. In Cell B1 enter: =IF(ISNUMBER(VALUE(LEFT(A1,1))),A1,””)

4. Drag the small black square in the lower right corner of that cell down to the bottom of the article, so that all the text lines in A1 will be parsed.

5. Right-click on the B column header, and click Copy.

6. Right-click on the C column header, and press V. This pastes Values only,

7. Left-click on the C column header to select the column.

8. Click Sort and Filter, Custom Sort, Continue with the current selection, Sort. Sort by: Column C, Sort on: Values, Order: A-Z

Good to go! Result:

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