How to merge cells in excel without losing text

Answer

Merging cells in Excel usually keeps only the content of the upper-left cell and deletes other cell contents. To merge cells without losing text, you must combine the content first before merging.

Steps to Merge Cells Without Losing Text

1. Select the Cells to Merge
   Highlight the cells that need to be merged. For example, if you have data in cells A1 and B1, select both cells.

2. Combine Text Using a Formula
   Use the CONCATENATE function or the & operator to combine text from multiple cells.

   Example using CONCATENATE:

   =CONCATENATE(A1, " ", B1)

   Example using & operator:

   =A1 & " " & B1

   Replace " " with any delimiter you need, such as a comma, semicolon, or dash.

3. Copy and Paste the Combined Text

   1. Copy the cell containing the combined text.

   2. Paste it as values into one of the cells you want to keep. Use Paste Special → Values to remove the formula.

4. Merge the Cells

   • Go to the Home tab.

   • Click Merge & Center or the drop-down arrow next to it.

   • Select Merge Cells.
     The text from step 3 remains intact in the merged cell.

Alternative Using Flash Fill (Excel 2013 and Later)

1. Type the combined result manually in the first row.

2. Start typing in the next row. Excel will suggest the combined pattern.

3. Press Enter to accept.

4. Copy the filled cells and paste as values.

5. Merge the cells normally.

Key Notes

• Windows vs. Mac Differences: On Mac, the location of Merge & Center is the same under the Home tab. Shortcut commands may differ; Mac does not have a direct shortcut for merging cells.

• Avoid merging large ranges when data will be sorted or filtered. Use Center Across Selection as an alternative for visual merging without combining cells.

Would you like me to show a formula that merges multiple cells dynamically without manual copying? This can save time for large datasets.

Yes · 0 No · 0 Add Comment · 0

Add ·

Report