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Learn how to combine multiple cells into one cell.

In this example, we take fields called First Name and Last Name and combine them into a field called Full Name.

Transcript
Welcome to Teaming for Technology’s tip number 84. Today we’re working with Excel and we’re going to show you how to combine fields using the Concatenate function.

In our scenario, we have First Name in column E and Last Name in column F. In column G, we’d like Full Name with both First Name and Last Name in the same cell.

If you’re comfortable typing a function, you’ve always got the option to click in your destination cell and type and equals sign and enter your function name. But in today’s example, we’re going to go from the standpoint that we don’t know what we’re looking for. All we know is that we want to combine the fields into cell G5.

So we’re going to use the insert function button off the Formulas Tab. But first we begin in our destination cell. So click in G5 and we’ll then click on the Formulas Tab and then the Insert Function button. The Insert Function Window allows you to type a description of what you’re seeking or let’s you type the actual function name. Well, “concatenate” isn’t the most intuitive word to find, so in the description search, just type “combine.” You’ll see that the Concatenate Function is the first option returned. Down below it also gives you a description of what it does. It combines several text strings into one text string. That’s what we want, so click OK.

You’ll see a Function Arguments window popup asking us what we want to concatenate. In our scenario, we’d like to combine three bits of information. It’ll actually be First Name, then a space, and then Last Name.

As Text 1, we’d like First Name. After clicking in Text 1, click on E5.

In Text 2, we’d like a space. Click in that box and hit the spacebar once. You’ll see as we move down to Text 3, the Text 2 box turns into a quote plus a space plus a quote which tells us that there will be a space in our final result.

In Text 3, we’d like Last Name which will be cell F5. Again, we’re concatenating E5 plus a space plus F5. First Name space Last Name.
Before we click OK, it gives us a quick preview: First Name space Last Name. Looks good, so let’s click OK.

And you’ll see the result appears in cell G5 for us. If we’d like to spread the result down to the other cells, we can grab the little handle and drag it down. Or we can hover over the little handle of the cell and double-click to spread it down to the rest.

There you have it. Thanks for watching T4T’s tip number 84 which was how to combine fields using the Concatenate Function. We’ll see you next time.