How do you merge cells?

Question

I have got a lot of data on an excel spreadsheet. I need to merge the first names and last names into one cell. I know how to merge them one line at a time, but I have about 5000 rows that need to be merged. Is there a way of merging so that all the rows do it, and that I dont have to do it one by one? Please help!

Answer 1

i dont think this is possible. you've got a long work ahead of you lol

Answer 2

Well you could merge one more but recording it as a macro as you do it so you need only run the macro. But if you highlight the two cells and then merge, usually you lose some data, so am intrigued as to how you are doing it. The best way though, if you are using this spreadsheet as a database would be to keep the names in separate cells but perhaps to use a concatenate function so they print out as if in one cell. So if you have first name in A1, second name in B1 the function would be =CONCATENATE(A1, " ", B1). The quotes are imperative because as you probably know that will give you the space between the two cells. So you could do this function in the first row in another column, autofill it down and then if you wanted, hide the first two columns with the names separately.

Answer 3

OK - highlight the first line and merge the cells together - you already know how to do this.



Select this merged line - in the bottom right corner of the highlighted cell will be a dark black square.

put your cursor over this square - your cursor will change to a cross.

Left click your mouse and drag down - VOILA, what you did to your original merged cells will be repeated as far as you drag the cursor down!



Alternatively, after merging your first cells, highlight the cells in line 2 and press F4 - then line 3, F4 etc etc etc

Answer 4

tools-->macro-->record new macro

then follow the steps and when recording, merge the cells then stop recording

then use the keyboard shortcut you made that action do and apply it to every line

(if you pressed the down arrow onto the start of where you would merge the next 2 cells when recording, you could just keep the shorcut keys pressed and it will do everything quicker)

Answer 5

Highlight all of the cells that you want merged. Then depending on what version of Microsoft you have, you just click on merge and center. It should be on your tool bar.

Answer 6

yes highlight both columns across and then drag to highlight the rows - then merge cells

Answer 7

Insert a column and use concantenate function. For example if firstnames are in column A and lastnames in the B your function at the firs line will looks like this:

=concatenate(A1;B1)

Answer 8

This might be what you are looking for. In D1 enter this formula and then select D1 and double click the little black square in the lower right corner of the cell. That will copy the formula down the length of the data. =A1&"-"&B1&"-"&C1 This will give you the contents of A1 a dash, the contents of B1 a dash then the contents of C1.

Answer 9

Can you not highlight them all and then merge them??

Answer 10

I don't think there is a way either. sorry

Answer 11

idk.