DataScrub

Format Helper

Transform text case, reformat dates, trim whitespace, or find & replace.

Drag & drop your file here

or click to browse

CSVTSVExcelODSJSON

Reformat Dates, Text Case, and More

Inconsistent formatting is a silent data killer: dates in five different formats, product names in mixed case, extra whitespace hiding in cells. DataScrub's Format Helper standardizes your data with one click — no complex Excel formulas required.

Whether you are preparing a dataset for import, fixing formatting before a mail merge, or standardizing a report, this tool covers the most common reformatting tasks. Everything runs locally in your browser.

How to Reformat Your Data

  1. Upload your CSV, Excel, or ODS file.
  2. Pick a formatting operation: date reformatting, case conversion, or find and replace.
  3. Select the target columns.
  4. Preview the changes.
  5. Apply and download your reformatted file.

Date Formatting Options

Convert dates between the most common formats:

  • ISO format (YYYY-MM-DD) — the international standard, ideal for databases and APIs.
  • US format (MM/DD/YYYY) — the convention in the United States.
  • EU format (DD/MM/YYYY) — the convention in Europe and many other regions.
  • Long format (January 1, 2024) — human-readable, good for reports and print.

Date formatting is essential when combining data from different regions or systems that each use their own convention.

Text Case Conversion

Standardize text columns with three case options: UPPERCASE, lowercase, and Title Case. This is useful for normalizing names, categories, and labels so that sorting and grouping work consistently.

For example, a column mixing "new york," "New York," and "NEW YORK" will all become "New York" with Title Case.

Find and Replace

Simple text replacement across entire columns. Great for fixing common typos, standardizing terminology, or swapping abbreviations for full names. The search matches exact text, and the replacement is applied to every occurrence in the selected columns.

Tips for Reformatting

  • Date formatting is the most error-prone operation — always preview the result before applying.
  • Watch out for ambiguous dates: 01/02/2024 could be January 2nd or February 1st depending on the source. Know your data's original convention.
  • Use find and replace for quick fixes — it is faster than case conversion when you only need to change specific terms.
  • When reformatting dates from mixed sources, sort by the original date column first so you can spot inconsistencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What date formats are supported?

The tool recognizes dates in ISO (YYYY-MM-DD), US (MM/DD/YYYY), EU (DD/MM/YYYY), and long format (January 1, 2024). It auto-detects the input format and converts to your chosen output format. Dates must already be in one of these recognized patterns.

Can I format multiple columns at once?

Yes. You can select multiple columns and apply the same formatting operation to all of them in one pass. This is especially handy when a file has separate date columns for created-at and updated-at timestamps.

What if my dates are in a non-standard format?

If your dates use an uncommon pattern that the tool does not auto-detect, try the Custom Script tool instead. You can write a short JavaScript function to parse and reformat dates in any custom pattern.

Is find and replace case-sensitive?

Find and replace matches the exact text you enter, including case. Searching for "abc" will not match "ABC" or "Abc." This precision helps avoid unintended replacements in your data.