Does this tool upload or save my text?

No. Parsing, preview, file reading, extraction, copying, and downloads happen in browser memory. Reloading removes the input.

What is the difference between literal and CSV-compatible mode?

Literal mode splits on the exact delimiter string and does not interpret quotes. CSV-compatible mode recognizes double-quoted fields and requires a one-character delimiter.

Can I change the order of columns?

Yes. Enter the desired order directly. For example, 3,1 outputs column 3 before column 1.

What happens when a row has too few columns?

Choose to insert empty values, skip the row, preserve the original row, or report an error. The tool counts affected rows without exposing their contents in messages.

Does CSV-compatible mode support quoted line breaks?

Yes. It uses Papa Parse to handle delimiters, escaped quotes, and line breaks inside double-quoted fields.

Why is the preview limited?

The table renders at most 100 rows and 20 columns to keep the interface responsive. Extraction still processes the complete input up to the 2 MB limit.

Data

Text Column Extractor

Split delimited text into columns, select positions in any order, handle incomplete rows, and export the result without uploading source data.

Your text is processed locally in your browser.

Input delimiterColumnsOutput delimiter

Advanced settings

Missing columnsLine endingsTrim valuesSkip empty rowsRemove duplicatesKeep empty columnsAuto extract

Input textExtracted output

0 B input0 B output0 input lines0 output rows0 max columns0 selected0 missing0 duplicates removedLiteralAuto on

PreviewRun extraction to inspect columns

No parsed rows to preview.

Delimited text may contain passwords, tokens, or personal data. Use synthetic data whenever possible.

Your text is processed locally in your browser.

How to use it

Choose literal or CSV-compatible parsing, then select the input delimiter.
Enter column positions such as 1,3 or 3,1 and review the bounded table preview.
Choose how incomplete rows are handled, then copy or download the extracted output.

Example

Input

alpha|example-value|A1B2C3
bravo|another-value|D4E5F6
charlie|sample-value|G7H8I9

Output

Columns 1,3:
alpha|A1B2C3
bravo|D4E5F6
charlie|G7H8I9

Extract columns from delimited text

Use the extractor for copied command output, logs, exports, and other rows where fields are separated by a consistent character or short string.

Choose an explicit delimiter

Select pipe, comma, colon, semicolon, tab, space, or a custom literal delimiter. The tool does not guess because a character may also be part of the data.

Select and reorder positions

Columns start at 1. A selection such as 1,3 keeps those two fields, while 3,1 reverses their order. Ranges such as 1-3 can be combined with individual positions.

Literal and CSV-compatible parsing

Literal mode treats quotes as ordinary characters and supports multi-character delimiters. CSV-compatible mode supports quoted fields, escaped quotes, embedded delimiters, and line breaks inside quoted fields.

Handle incomplete rows

A short row can receive empty values, be skipped, remain unchanged, or stop extraction with an error. Status messages identify row numbers without echoing their contents.

Quoted fields

In CSV-compatible mode, a delimiter inside double quotes remains part of the field and two double quotes represent one literal quote. An unclosed quote produces an error.

Pipe-delimited example

For alpha|example-value|A1B2C3, selecting columns 1,3 returns alpha|A1B2C3. The same operation applies to every valid row in order.

CSV example

For alpha,"example, value",A1B2C3 in CSV-compatible mode, the quoted comma stays inside column 2 instead of creating another column.

Protect sensitive values

Delimited exports may contain passwords, tokens, authenticator secrets, or personal data. Prefer synthetic examples and use a trusted browser and device.

Common questions

Does this tool upload or save my text?: No. Parsing, preview, file reading, extraction, copying, and downloads happen in browser memory. Reloading removes the input.
What is the difference between literal and CSV-compatible mode?: Literal mode splits on the exact delimiter string and does not interpret quotes. CSV-compatible mode recognizes double-quoted fields and requires a one-character delimiter.
Can I change the order of columns?: Yes. Enter the desired order directly. For example, 3,1 outputs column 3 before column 1.
What happens when a row has too few columns?: Choose to insert empty values, skip the row, preserve the original row, or report an error. The tool counts affected rows without exposing their contents in messages.
Does CSV-compatible mode support quoted line breaks?: Yes. It uses Papa Parse to handle delimiters, escaped quotes, and line breaks inside double-quoted fields.
Why is the preview limited?: The table renders at most 100 rows and 20 columns to keep the interface responsive. Extraction still processes the complete input up to the 2 MB limit.