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Text to columns is a feature in Microsoft Excel that allows users to split data in a single cell into multiple columns based on a delimiter. However, if you have used this feature and now need to reverse the process and combine the columns back into a single cell, there is a simple solution. By using the CONCATENATE function, you can merge the columns back together and restore the original data in a single cell. This process is useful if you have accidentally split data or if you need to revert back to the original format. It can be easily done by following a few steps, ensuring the data is properly merged and intact.
Excel: Reverse Text to Columns
You can use the Text to Columns feature on the Data tab in Excel to split the text in one column into multiple columns using a specific delimiter.
The opposite of the Text to Columns feature is the TEXTJOIN function, which allows you to combine text from multiple columns into one column using a specific delimiter.
The following example shows how to use the TEXTJOIN function in practice.
Example: How to Perform Reverse of Text to Columns in Excel
Suppose we have the following two columns in Excel that contain information about various basketball teams:
Suppose we would like to combine the text from each of these columns into one column, using a space as a delimiter.
We can type the following formula into cell C2 to do so:
=TEXTJOIN(" ",TRUE,A2:B2)
We can then click and drag this formula down to each remaining cell in column C:
Column C combines the location from column A and the team name from column B into one cell.
Note that we could also choose to use a different delimiter if we’d like in the TEXTJOIN function.
For example, we could type the following formula into cell C2 instead to combine the location and team name using a comma as a delimiter:
=TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,A2:B2)
The following screenshot shows how to use this formula in practice:
Note: You can find the complete documentation for the TEXTJOIN function in Excel .
Additional Resources
The following tutorials explain how to perform other common operations in Excel: