How to Combine Columns of Data in MS Excel

There are occasions when you need to combine or join columns of data into a single column. Here’s how to do it using MS Excel's concatenate function.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• MS Excel

1. 
    

   Create a new column for the combined data. Select a cell in that column. Click on the Insert menu across the top of the screen and choose Function.

2. 
    

   The Function Menu will appear. Choose All for the Function category. In the Function name box, highlight any name and start typing CONCAT. Highlight the concatenate function and click the OK button.

3. 
    

   The Concatenate Function Wizard will appear. Drag the Wizard out of your way so you can see the columns of data. The cursor will be blinking in the Text1 box. Take your mouse and select the first cell of data that you want to combine. That cell reference will automatically populate the Text1 box.

4. 
    

   Most of the time, you don’t want to combine data without a delimiter of some sort like a comma or a dash or even a space. Otherwise, the data will run together. So in the Text1 box to the right of the cell reference type the & sign, then “, then the delimiter of your choice, press the space key, and “ again. The & sign lets Excel know you want to join a cell reference with text, and that text must be in quotation marks. Notice as you type, an example to the right of the Text1 box will show how the final results will appear.

5. 
    

   Next, use your mouse to move the cursor to the Text2 box. Take your mouse and select the second cell of data that you want to combine. That cell reference will automatically populate the Text2 box.

6. 
    

   Click the OK button on the Concatenate Function Wizard to complete the formula and see the joined data.

7. 
    

   Copy and paste or use your mouse to drag the function or formula and combine the remaining cells. Copy and paste the values over the formula and delete the original columns of data.