This tutorial explores various methods for efficiently merging cells in Excel, focusing on techniques to retain data when combining cells in Excel 365, 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and earlier versions.

Often, Excel users need to consolidate two or more cells into a single, larger cell. This might be for improved data presentation or to accommodate content exceeding a single cell's capacity. However, Excel's standard "Merge Cells" function often discards data from all but the top-left cell.

This tutorial provides several solutions to merge cells while preserving all data.

Methods for Merging Cells:

• Excel's Merge & Center Feature: The quickest method involves selecting the cells and using the "Merge & Center" option on the Home tab. This centers the top-left cell's content within the merged cell, deleting the contents of other cells.

• Additional Merge Options: The dropdown arrow next to "Merge & Center" offers "Merge Across" (merging cells row-wise) and "Merge Cells" (merging without centering).

Merging Cells Without Data Loss:

• Method 1: Column-wise Merging with "Justify": This method works for cells within a single column. Select the cells, widen the column, and use the "Justify" feature under the "Fill" option on the Home tab. This moves all content to the top cell before merging. Limitations: Only works for text in a single column with no blank cells between the cells to be merged.

• Method 2: Using a Merge Cells Add-in: Specialized add-ins provide robust merging capabilities, allowing for data preservation and various delimiter options (e.g., comma, space, line break). These add-ins handle merging across rows and columns effectively.

• Method 3: CONCATENATE or CONCAT Function: Use the CONCATENATE (or &) function to combine cell values into a new cell, then copy and paste special (values) into the top-left cell of the range before merging. This allows for custom delimiters.

Keyboard Shortcuts and Finding/Unmerging Cells:

• Merge Cells Shortcut: Alt H M C (Merge & Center), Alt H M A (Merge Across), Alt H M M (Merge Cells).
• Finding Merged Cells: Ctrl F, then using the "Format" option to specify "Merge cells."
• Unmerging Cells: Ctrl Z (Undo) or using the "Unmerge Cells" option in the Merge & Center dropdown.

Alternatives to Merging:

Consider using "Center Across Selection" as an alternative to merging for visual centering without the limitations of merged cells.

Remember that merged cells can restrict sorting, AutoFill, and table creation. Use them judiciously.

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