MS Excel is a very popular software in the business world as it is widely used for data analysis. One of the basic features of MS Excel is merging columns and rows. Merging is a helpful feature because it can be time-consuming to manually copy and paste data from one cell to another. If you are new to MS Excel and would like to know how to merge columns and rows, this article will guide you through the process.
How to merge two columns in Excel?
Merging two columns into one in MS Excel is very easy. Follow the steps below to merge two columns:
- Select the cells you want to merge.
- On the Home tab, in the Alignment group, click on the Merge & Center icon.
- The selected cells will now be merged into one cell.
As you can see from the screenshot above, merging two columns will result in the data from the two columns being combined into one column, without any space between them.
How to merge two rows in Excel?
Merging two rows into one in MS Excel is just as easy as merging two columns. Follow the steps below to merge two rows:
- Select the cells you want to merge.
- On the Home tab, in the Alignment group, click on the Merge & Center icon.
- The selected cells will now be merged into one cell, with the data from both rows in one row.
After merging two rows, all the data from both rows will be in one row and there will be no space between them, as seen in the screenshot above.
How to merge two columns into one without losing data in Excel?
When you merge two columns into one in MS Excel, you may lose data. This happens when there is data in the second column and you merge it with the first column. The data in the second column is overwritten by the data in the first column. However, there is a way to merge two columns into one without losing any data. Follow the steps below:
- Select the column you want to merge into.
- Right-click and select Format Cells.
- In the Format Cells dialog box, go to the Alignment tab.
- Check the Merge Cells box under the Text Control section.
- Click OK.
- Select the cells you want to merge.
- On the Home tab, in the Alignment group, click on the Merge & Center icon.
- The selected cells will now be merged into one cell, without losing any data.
As you can see from the screenshot above, all the data from both columns is in the merged column, without any data being lost.
How to merge two columns in Excel with different data?
If you want to merge two columns in MS Excel, but the columns have different data in them, you can still merge them. Follow the steps below:
- Select the column you want to merge into.
- Right-click and select Format Cells.
- In the Format Cells dialog box, go to the Alignment tab.
- Check the Merge Cells box under the Text Control section.
- Click OK.
- Select the cells you want to merge.
- On the Home tab, in the Alignment group, click on the Merge & Center icon.
- The selected cells will now be merged into one cell, with the data from both columns in one column.
As you can see from the screenshot above, the data from both columns is in the merged column, even though the data was different in each column.
FAQ:
1. Can I merge more than two columns in Excel?
Yes, you can merge more than two columns in MS Excel. To merge more than two columns, select the cells you want to merge and then click on the Merge & Center icon in the Alignment group on the Home tab. The selected cells will be merged into one cell.
2. Can I undo a merge in Excel?
Yes, you can undo a merge in MS Excel. To undo a merge, do the following:
- Select the merged cell.
- On the Home tab, in the Alignment group, click on the Merge & Center icon to unselect it.
- This will split the merged cell into its original cells.
Conclusion:
MS Excel is a powerful tool for data analysis. Merging two columns and rows is a basic but important feature in MS Excel. It can help save you time and make your data more organized. This article has provided step-by-step instructions on how to merge two columns and rows, how to merge two columns into one without losing data, and how to merge two columns in Excel with different data. By following these instructions, you can merge columns and rows with ease in MS Excel.
For more information on MS Excel, watch this helpful video below: