Cell Merge Options in Excel 2002

By Beth Sunny
Posted Friday, December 3, 2004

There are three new merge-related commands that can be added to the Formatting toolbar: Merge Cells, Unmerge Cells, and Merge Across. Learn more...

The Merge and Center button on the Formatting toolbar is now a toggle that can apply or remove center alignment and merge the selected cells. Excel retains only the upper-leftmost data in the selected range in the resulting merged cell. If there is data in other cells, the data is deleted.

Additionally, there are three new merge-related commands that can be added to the Formatting toolbar: Merge Cells, Unmerge Cells, and Merge Across.

Merge Cells: Combines two or more selected cells into a single cell. Excel retains only the upper-leftmost data in the selected range into the resulting merged cell. If there is data in other cells, the data is deleted.

Unmerge Cells: Separates a merged cell into the original number of cells

Merge Across: Combines the contents of selected adjacent cells in the same row into a single cell

Adding a Merge Command to the Formatting Toolbar

1. Choose Customize from the Tools menu, and then click the Commands tab.

2. In the Categories list, choose Format.

3. Locate the merge command you wish to add. Click on the Description button to read about the command.

4. Drag the icon from the Commands list to where you want it placed on the Formatting toolbar.

About the Author
Beth Sunny is a writer, publisher, and computer trainer. She owns Software Training Resources (STR), a courseware company known for their "QuickSteps to Learning" training manuals. STR launched an exciting web site in January of 2001. The web site is specifically for the Computer Training Industry - (http://www.sharpertraining.com). The site offers a place for individuals in the Computer Training Industry a place to advertise their business, correspond with others in the industry, find training products, and discover software tips and read great articles relating to computer training. Visit the site today! (http://www.sharpertraining.com)