Create Unique Identifier by either adding or removing a space

Hello, I have two sources of data showing names as the following:

- Last, First M
- Last,First M

Not every name has a middle initial so there is not always a first/second space. I need to use the name as a unique identifier and need to either:

- substitute the first space only with "" nothing on the first list, or
- add a space after the comma on the second list

Either option will create a unique identifier to bring information together, and I am stuck on how to make that happen. Any suggestions?

Thanks so much.
Sheryl

Not sure I understand the question properly, but if you want to remove the space after comma (between last name and first name), select the whole column, press ctrl+H. Find what: ", " [comma space] replace with: "," [comma]. and click replace all.

Is that what you're trying to do?

As mentioned above you could use Find and Replace to remove the space after the comma. You could use this to add a space:

Presuming full names are in column A:

Formula:

=IFERROR(IF(FIND(", ",A1)>0,A1), SUBSTITUTE(A1,",", ", "))

This will return the name as is if its already comma and space or will add the space.

Hope this helps

Perfect, easier than I thought, thank you !

Sheryl