M. Shaiq Ansari
Hi, everyone. Welcome back to our Google Sheets tutorial series. Today, we will learn how to merge cells in Google Sheets without losing data. Google Sheets is a great way to manage and track your data. In this article, you will learn how to merge cells, which is a very easy to do thing, but as well as without losing your data is a big plus of this article. If you also have a difficult time merging multiple cells and losing your data every time in Google Sheets so you don’t need to worry anymore, we are here to help you out in this matter.
This guide is very helpful for those who are looking for ways to learn how to merge cells in Google Sheets without losing data. It is an essential and valuable skill that will help you in difficult times. In this article, we will take you through each step so you can understand its procedure easily. So, keep on reading this article till the end and carefully follow the given instructions to learn how to merge cells in Google Sheets without losing data.
Table of Contents
Importance of Merging Cells in Google Sheets Without Losing Data
If your Google Sheets contains important information or data and you don’t want to lose it when you need to merge multiple cells in Google Sheets, you should read this article and take advantage of it. If you start doing this task manually it will consume a lot of your time and energy. So, I will tell you simple formulas that you can use to merge multiple cells into one. It will make your work very easy and interesting. This function can be applied to both horizontal and vertical cells. It will become easy to sort out data nicely from multiple strands.
Therefore, there are several ways discussed in this article that teach you how to merge cells in Google Sheets without losing data. So let me quickly move you toward its step-by-step procedure.
How to Merge Cells in Google Sheets Without Losing Data
Merging a cell usually loses the date of any one of them, to prevent this loss there are two methods in Google Sheets of merging cells without losing data. Both methods are almost the same in pattern, just different in names. We will teach you both in this article how to merge cells in Google Sheets without losing data, then it’s your priority which method you use.
- Merge cells with the help of the “&” sign
- Merge cells with the help of the “CONCATENATE” function.
Merge Cells in Google Sheets Without Losing Data – Using “&” Operator
This method of merging cells without losing data is very simple. Just with the help of the “&” sign you can merge cells without losing data. There is no syntax for this method of merging cells without losing data, there are several writing patterns of this method for different criteria. Otherwise simply to merge cells you need to add & a sign between both cell addresses after the equal sign. Your cells will be merged without losing data. Let’s give an eye on the following steps to see how it practically works, and learn all the patterns of writing for different criteria.
Step 1
Here we have a table containing a couple of columns with some data in both, let’s merge them. To merge them without losing data you will have to choose an individual separate cell where you can merge them with data. As I have placed the cursor in the following picture.
Step 2
First, we will write an equal sign for all functions, then give the cell address of the first cell that you want to merge.
Step 3
After the first cell address simply type the “&” sign like below.
Step 4
Then give the cell address of the second cell that you want to meet the first one.
As I told how simple is that you are almost done, just press “Enter” to get the results
Step 5
As you can see from the results below in the picture the data of both cells have been merged into one cell.
Have you noticed there was not any space between the data “A10” because this pattern merges the cell’s data without spacing? If you want to add space then the pattern will be as follows
Step 6
Write the function till the “&” sign similarly as above, which means the cell address of the first cell after the equal sign then & sign.
Step 7
After the “&” sign, you will need to write inverted commas with space to give the space between the data of both cells.
Step 8
Once you have written the inverted commas then again you will have to write the “&” sign and then the cell address of the 2nd cell. This is the pattern of writing this function to give the space between the data of both cells.
Step 9
Here you will get the results after pressing the “Enter” button with the space between both cell’s data
Step 10
Similarly, you can add more things between both cell data like dash sign and any other symbol you require with the same pattern. As you can see in the following picture.
Step 11
As you can see the results now. You can get the data with any kind of separation if needed
Step 12
For more results just drag the cursor over the other rows by dragging the blue dot along the selection of cells.
Merge Cells in Google Sheets Without Losing Data – Using CONCATENATE Function
As I told you first, these both methods are almost the same in writing patterns. We will write the CONCATENATE function after the equal sign and then follow the same pattern above. This method is also so easy to apply so if you prefer this method to merge cells without losing data then there are the steps on how to merge cells in Google Sheets without losing data by CONCATENATE function
Step 1
Here we have some data on first name and last name. We want to merge both cells to generate the full name. So, first, we locate the cursor where you want to merge the cells.
Step 2
Then we will write the function with an equal sign. Here we are using the CONCATENATE function to merge cells without losing data.
Step 3
After writing the function name, open the bracket and give the cell address of both cells and close the bracket as written in the following picture.
Step 4
You can see the results below, but there is no space between them. But we need space between first name and last name.
Step 5
So, to give the space between the first name and last name write the same above pattern, inverted commas between the cell addresses.
Step 6
Then just press “Enter” and you will get the results as shown below.
Step 7
Let’s suppose you have the data as follows: Names in the first column and the father’s name in the second column. Let’s write the full name with the help of CONCATENATE function.
Step 8
You can also write any reference as well between the cell addresses as I have used “S/o” to mention.
Note: Note the above pattern carefully in every space and commas and inverted commas.
Step 9
By pressing the “Enter” button you will get the following results which are very useful and helpful to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the purpose of merging cells in Google Sheets?
A: While working in Google Sheets you need to add titles or headings across the data, in which you may need to extend the cell space and adjust with the alignment of your data. In that case, we use merged cells in Google Sheets.
Q: What happens when we merged cells in Google Sheets?
A: Google sheet spreadsheet consists of cells which all are separated from one another. You cannot add any cell’s data to another. But if you merge both cells it will lose any one of the data. In other words, you can say one cell including text and formatting as well occupied the other cell’s place. In case we lose data of other cells when we merge cells in Google Sheets.
Q: Can we merge more than two cells in Google Sheets?
A: Yes you can add many cells together in Google Sheets. Just continue to follow the same above pattern and keep referencing the addresses they all will merge in one cell, doesn’t matter how many cells are there. There is an example of merging cells of more than two,
Step 1
As we wrote the pattern in the above method continues with the “&” sign, it will merge all those cells as you can see below in the picture. I have added three cell addresses.
Step 2
In this way, you can add two or more cells in Google Sheets as the result below.
Conclusion
Today we learn how to merge cells in Google Sheets without losing data we discussed two useful methods. So, these are the ways you can use to merge cells in Google Sheets without losing data. There were two easy methods to merge cells in Google Sheets without losing data, you can use any of them that you prefer. I taught you to give the space or any reference as well while merging two cells. Not only more than two cells even in case you have to merge entire columns (one or more), you can use similar formulas and apply them to the entire columns and rows as well.
Hope there will be no difficulty in merging cells without losing data after conveying this article on how to merge cells in Google Sheets without losing data. I will see you with another helpful tutorial soon. Thank you.
