I recently encountered a frustrating login issue in a user’s web application admin section. Despite entering the correct credentials, the user was unable to access the system. After investigating, I discovered the culprit: an extra space at the end of the login name.
Login attempt with trailing space
Successful login after cleaning spaces
🛠️ Root Cause
The issue was caused by a trailing space in the login name stored in Google Sheets. Once the space was removed, the user could log in successfully. This highlights how small inconsistencies in data entry can lead to major usability problems.
📊 Solution: TRIM Function
To prevent similar issues, I recommend using the TRIM function in Google Sheets. TRIM removes leading, trailing, and repeated spaces, while keeping single spaces between words intact.
Example
- Data: Cell E2 contains
" username "(with trailing space). - Formula: In cell F2, enter
=TRIM(E2). Result:"username".
Apply to Entire Column
Use ARRAYFORMULA to apply TRIM across a column:
=ARRAYFORMULA(TRIM(E2:E))This ensures all login names are cleaned automatically.
⚠️ Disclaimer
This post is based on a specific incident. The solutions provided are suggestions and may vary depending on your application and data structure. Always test thoroughly before implementing changes.
💡 Final Thoughts
Data cleaning is often overlooked, but it’s critical for preventing login failures and ensuring smooth user experiences. By integrating TRIM into your workflow, you can save time troubleshooting and keep your systems running reliably.