In this article, I will walk you through the process of merging and unmerging cells in Google Sheets while ensuring you preserve all the values within the merged area. While merging cells in Google Sheets may seem like a simple task, retaining values can be a bit tricky. To make this tutorial more engaging, I’ll also share some handy formula tips to help you overcome any obstacles you may encounter. So, grab your favorite beverage, sit back, and let’s dive in!
Introduction: The Importance of Merging Cells Mindfully
Before we delve into the nitty-gritty of merging and unmerging cells in Google Sheets, it’s crucial to understand the potential limitations and implications. While merging cells can be visually appealing, it may hinder the data manipulation capabilities of Google Sheets, as well as other spreadsheet programs. For instance, functions like DGET, SORT, QUERY, SUMIF, and FILTER may not work as expected with datasets that contain merged cells. Similarly, certain menu commands within the ‘DATA’ menu, such as ‘Sort,’ ‘Filter,’ and ‘Randomize Range,’ may produce incorrect results or fail to work altogether.
Exploring Different Merge Types in Google Sheets
Let’s start by learning how to merge cells in Google Sheets. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate through the process:
- Select the cells you want to merge.
- Go to the ‘Format’ menu and choose ‘Merge cells.’
- If you have cells selected in a column, select ‘Vertically.’
- If you have cells selected in a row, choose ‘Horizontally.’
- If you have cells selected in multiple rows and columns, choose ‘Merge all.’
Do keep in mind that when you select ‘Merge all’ with cells in multiple rows and columns, you have the flexibility to choose either vertical or horizontal merging. This gives you a total of five merge types to explore.
Explaining Five Merge Types
Take a look at the screenshot below for a visual representation of the different merge types in Google Sheets:
In addition to the menu commands mentioned earlier, you can also use keyboard shortcuts or the toolbar icon to merge cells in Google Sheets.
Keyboard Shortcuts (Windows):
- Alt + O + M + V: Merge Vertically
- Alt + O + M + H: Merge Horizontally
- Alt + O + M + A: Merge All
On a Mac, simply replace ‘Alt’ with ‘Ctrl + Option’.
The toolbar icon, located next to the ‘Borders’ icon, allows you to merge cells with ease. To use it, select more than one cell before clicking on the toolbar icon.
Preserving All Values When Merging Cells
Now, let’s address the challenge of preserving values when merging cells in Google Sheets. By default, when you merge cells, only the top-leftmost value is preserved. This means that if you have multiple values within the merged area, only the value in the top-left cell will remain. However, don’t fret! There’s a solution: using formulas.
For example, let’s say you have values in cells A2:A3 and you want to merge them into a single cell. You can achieve this by using a formula in another similarly sized merged range, like cells B2:B3.
Here’s how:
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Insert the following TEXTJOIN formula in cell B2:
=TEXTJOIN(CHAR(10), TRUE, A2:A4) -
Right-click on cell B2 and select ‘Copy’ from the shortcut menu.
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Open the shortcut menu again and choose ‘Paste Special’ > ‘Values only.’
Remember to delete the values in cells A2:A4 after pasting the formula. You can follow this method for all five merge types to ensure you preserve all the values within the merged cells.
- For merging in a single column, use the formula and merging instructions for range B2:B4.
- For merging in a single row, follow the same steps but for range B7:C7.
- For merging multiple rows and columns, utilize the formulas and merging instructions for ranges B10:C12, B15:C17, and B20:C22.
How to Unmerge Cells in Google Sheets
While merging cells in Google Sheets can have its advantages, it’s important to approach it mindfully. If you find yourself needing to unmerge cells, follow these simple steps:
- Select the merged cells you want to unmerge.
- Go to the ‘Format’ menu and choose ‘Merge cells’ > ‘Unmerge.’
- Alternatively, you can use the corresponding toolbar icon.
That’s it! Your cells will be unmerged, and you can continue working with a clean and uncluttered spreadsheet.
I hope this article has provided you with the insights and know-how to merge and unmerge cells in Google Sheets while retaining all the values within the merged area. Remember, merging cells can be a powerful tool for visual organization, but it’s essential to consider the impact on data manipulation and employ formulas to preserve values when needed. For more tips and tricks on Google Sheets and other SEO-related topics, visit Crawlan.com.
Happy merging and unmerging!
