When it comes to working with spreadsheets, merging data from multiple columns into one is often necessary. Whether you need to combine first names and last names to get the full name or merge multiple address columns to create a complete address, Google Sheets offers several methods to accomplish this task. In this article, we’ll explore four different methods to merge columns in Google Sheets that will make your life easier.
Using the CONCAT Function
The CONCAT function in Google Sheets allows you to quickly and easily merge two values. It’s a simplified version of the CONCATENATE function that we’ll discuss next. For example, if you use the formula =CONCAT("John", "Doe"), it will return the string “JohnDoe”. To apply the formula to an entire column, you can either drag it down to the last row or modify it using the ARRAYFORMULA function. Here’s an example: =ARRAYFORMULA(CONCAT(B1:B6, C1:C6)). One downside is that the CONCAT function only allows you to merge two values without adding delimiters between them.
Using the Ampersand (&) Operator
The ampersand (&) operator serves as a shortcut for the CONCATENATE function. It allows you to merge the contents of two or more columns into a single column. Unlike the CONCAT function, you can add more than two values using this method and include delimiters between them. For example, you can use the formula =A2&", "&B2&", "&C2 to merge the values of cells A2, B2, and C2. Simply drag the formula down to apply it to the entire column or modify it with ARRAYFORMULA like this: =ARRAYFORMULA(A2:A4&", "&B2:B4&", "&C2:C4). However, this method can become complex when combining many values.
Using the CONCATENATE Function
The CONCATENATE function is the most commonly used method to merge cells or values in Google Sheets. It allows you to merge data from two or more columns into a single column and provides more flexibility than the CONCAT function. With this function, you can use delimiters such as spaces, commas, dashes, etc., to separate the merged values from other columns. For example, you can use the formula =CONCATENATE(A2, ", ", B2, ", ", C2) to merge the data from cells A2, B2, and C2. One limitation of the CONCATENATE function is that it cannot be used with ARRAYFORMULA to automatically apply the function to the entire column. In such cases, you should consider using the ampersand method described earlier.
Using the TEXTJOIN Function
The TEXTJOIN function in Google Sheets allows you to combine multiple text strings into a single string with a specified delimiter between each text item. It’s particularly useful when you want to create a concatenated text string from a range of cells or an array of values. Unlike the previous methods, TEXTJOIN only supports a single delimiter for all locations and can exclude empty cells. This means that if you merge columns with empty cells using other methods, an extra delimiter will be added where the empty cell is. However, the TEXTJOIN function doesn’t include this extra delimiter. Here’s an example: =TEXTJOIN(", ", TRUE, A2, B2, C2). Similar to the CONCATENATE function, TEXTJOIN doesn’t work with ARRAYFORMULA to dynamically fill the entire column.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed four different methods to merge columns in Google Sheets:
- The CONCAT function: a simple way to merge two values.
- The ampersand (&) operator: a shortcut for the CONCATENATE function, allowing you to merge multiple values and include delimiters.
- The CONCATENATE function: a versatile method that allows you to merge data from multiple columns and use delimiters.
- The TEXTJOIN function: the most versatile method to merge columns, which can ignore empty cells and use any desired delimiter.
Each method has its advantages and limitations, so choose the one that best suits your needs. If you need a quick and simple merge of two values, go with the CONCAT function. If you have multiple values to merge or need delimiters, use the ampersand operator or the CONCATENATE function. If empty cells are a concern or you want a custom delimiter, the TEXTJOIN function is your best bet.
Start merging those columns in Google Sheets using the method that suits your needs best. And for more tips and tricks on productivity and spreadsheets, visit Crawlan.com. Happy merging!
