LibGuides: Data Cleaning: OpenRefine: Data Cleaning Tool

OpenRefine: Data Cleaning Tool

OpenRefine (previously called "GoogleRefine") is a free tool designed to help you review and bulk clean messy data. It is a software stored locally on one's computer and does not connect to the internet, so you can use it for cleaning sensitive data.

Introduction to OpenRefine
(50 min, can speed up pace). This video introduces OpenRefine, compares it against Excel, and shows examples for how to use this tool.
Install OpenRefine
This is the home page of the OpenRefine software. You can install this open source tool from here and access basic instructions about its use.
Walkthrough of common functions
University of Illinois has a whole library guide with step by step screenshots and instructions about how to do various common functions in OpenRefine.
Cleaning Data with OpenRefine (History focus)
This asynchronous tutorial walks through data cleaning steps using OpenRefine using a series of exercises based on a collection of metadata from the Powerhouse museum: demonstrating how (semi-)automated methods can help you correct the errors in your data.