How can I combine data from 3 columns into one?

**slywuf** · 03-09-2009, 04:21 PM

I receive a tab delimited data file from my manufacturer which I place into an Excel file. The data file has the product description separated into 3 columns.
(description 1, description 2, description 3)
I want to have all the text combined to form just one description column. I would like to have a blank line between description 1 & 2 and also 2 & 3.

Is there a slick way to do this, as I have hundreds of products that I need to combine the descriptions for, and doing this manually one at a time would take darn near forever.

Thanks!

**teylyn** · 03-09-2009, 04:43 PM

Hi,

you can insert a new column and put in a formula along the lines of

=A1&CHAR(10)&CHAR(10)&B1&CHAR(10)&CHAR(10)&C1

Char(10) enters a line break, just like hitting ALT-Enter when editing a cell.
Make sure that you format the cells to wrap the text (Format cell - Alignment tab), otherwise you may see no line break, but a little box for each Char(10)

If you want to delete the original three columns, you'll need to copy the new column first and then paste it onto itself with Paste Special - Values. Or, you could simply hide the columns with the original text.

Does that help?

**mpquin** · 03-09-2009, 04:43 PM

=a1&" "&b1&" "&c1

**slywuf** · 03-09-2009, 05:16 PM

Hey Teylyn,

Yes, I tried that and it combines the columns just fine.

Now, I take this Excel file and import it into another data base program
that is expecting to see a regular tab delimited file. Is is necessary to
add the cell formatting that you showed, or can I just leave the cells
as is... when looking at it, the line break appears as = = . Will this
be interpreted as a line break with my other program?

Also, I see that columns can be combined using =a1&" "&b1&" "&c1

Is there a character for line break, or line feed that can be
placed between the quotes that will make this formula work the same way?

Thanks a bunch.