Combine/Concatenate Text Columns

Number of Columns to be Combine

This specifies the number of columns that are to be combined. You can select up to a maximum of 5 columns to be combined.

Columns to be Combined

Provides a drop down list of the current columns in the spreadsheet, where you can select the column to be combined. Note a column can be selected more than once.

Start

This specifies the position of the first character in the column that is to be used when transferring text to the new column. For example, if this option is set to 3, then the string 'ABCDE' will transfer the substring 'CDE' to the combined text column.

Width

This specifies the maximum number of characters that can be transferred from the column to the combined text. For example, if the starting position is 2, and the width is 3, then the string 'ABCDE' will transfer the substring 'BCD' to the combined text column.

Save into Text column

Provides a space for you to specify the name of the column to store the combined text. A name can be entered or an existing column name within the current spreadsheet can be chosen from the drop down list. Note that if an existing name is selected it will overwrite the data in that column.

Insert separator between texts

When selected, then the specified separator will be inserted between the text from the combined columns.

Space	- Inserts a space between items, e.g. 'A' and 'B' combined would result in 'A B'
Comma	- Inserts a comma between items, e.g. 'A' and 'B' combined would result in 'A,B'
Other	- Inserts a specified string between the items, e.g. 'A' and 'B' combined with the specified string ' + ' would result in 'A + B'

Remove double separators

When selected, any combinations of cells that include an empty cell will be excluded from the combined text preventing repeated separators. For example, if the items 'A','', and 'C' were combined with a separator of '+', then the result would be 'A++C'. However, when this option is selected the separator '+' for the missing cell will be excluded resulting in the string 'A+C'.

Trim spaces before combining columns

When selected, leading, trailing and duplicate spaces will be removed from the text from each column before it is combined into the new column.

Clear

Clear any edit fields that have been filled in.

Apply

Use the specified criterion to combine the text from the columns into a new column and leave the dialog open for another combine operation.

OK

Use the specified criterion to combine the text from the columns into a new column and close the dialog.

Cancel

Close the dialog without making any changes.