Key Points

• The CONCATENATE function, combined with CHAR(10), allows you to merge text from multiple cells in Excel, inserting a line break between each cell's content.
• To properly display the text on separate lines after using CONCATENATE for line breaks, enabling the Wrap Text feature is crucial.
• Excel's CONCATENATE and CHAR functions offer an efficient method to gather data from multiple cells into one, while keeping it readable with line breaks.

Interested in a fresh approach or shortcut for this? Continue reading!

Table of Contents

CONCATENATE Excel Function

Functionality

Merges two or more text strings into a single string. The items can be text values, numbers, or cell references.

Formula Structure:

=CONCATENATE(text1, [text2], [text3], …)

Explanation:

=CONCATENATE(the first text, the second text, and so on…)

Line Break in Excel

In Excel, adding a line break within a cell ends the current line and starts a new one. The image below shows text with and without a line break.

Typically, to insert a line break while typing in Excel, you can press Alt + Enter, which will move the cursor to a new line within the same cell.

But what about when you need to combine texts from multiple cells using a formula?

That’s precisely what we’ll explore in the upcoming section!

3 Methods for Excel Concatenate with Line Break

Need to insert a line break between each text string?

This is achieved by incorporating the CHAR( ) function between each text string/argument.

The CHAR function retrieves a character based on a number from 1 to 255. For instance, CHAR(10) inserts a line break in Windows, CHAR(34) gives a ” (double quote), and CHAR(64) yields @.

By adding CHAR(10) into your formula, you can introduce a line break. Remember to enable WRAP TEXT to view each text on a separate line.

Follow the step-by-step guide below to learn how straightforward it is to add line breaks in Excel using employee data. Make sure to download the Excel workbook and practice along:

download excel workbook Concatenate.xlsx

METHOD 1: Using Concatenate Excel Formula

STEP 1: Enter the CONCATENATE Excel function in an empty cell:
=CONCATENATE(

STEP 2: The CONCATENATE arguments:

text1, [text2], [text3], …

What texts are you merging?

Select all the columns:
=CONCATENATE(A12, B12, C12, D12)

Now, add the CHAR(10) function to insert a line break between each text:
=CONCATENATE(A12, CHAR(10), B12, CHAR(10), C12, CHAR(10), D12)

Extend the formula to other cells by dragging the lower right corner downwards.

STEP 3: Navigate to Home > Alignment > Wrap Text to display the text across multiple lines, and you'll see all the results!

This method shows you how to add a new line in the Excel concatenate formula. Now, let’s examine the other two methods!

METHOD 2: Using & (Ampersand) Operator

Instead of using the Concatenate function, you can utilize the Ampersand (&) operator. The & operator acts as a concatenation operator and links text from different cells alongside the CHAR function.

The formula to combine text with line breaks from the earlier example using the & operator would be:
=A9 & CHAR(10) & B9 & CHAR(10) & C9 & CHAR(10) & D9

METHOD 3: Using TEXTJOIN Formula

Available in Excel 2019 & Office 365.

Instead of manually selecting cells and repeatedly adding the CHAR function in the formula, you can use the advanced version of the concatenate function – TEXTJOIN.

TEXTJOIN allows you to concatenate a range of cells with a delimiter.

The TEXTJOIN function requires three arguments:

=TEXTJOIN(delimiter, ignore_empty, text1, [text2], [text3],..)

1. Delimiter – The character you want to insert between each text.
2. Ignore_empty – Set to TRUE to ignore empty cells, or FALSE to include them.
   The default value is TRUE.
3. Text – The range of cells you wish to combine.

The TEXTJOIN function in our example would look like this:
=TEXTJOIN(CHAR(10), TRUE, A10:D10)

Tips and Tricks for Concatenate Mastery

The Magic of Wrap Text

Wrapping text in Excel is like neatly arranging your data to ensure it's fully visible on the screen. If your content appears cramped on one line after concatenation, the "Wrap Text" feature is your solution. Found on the Home tab under the Alignment group, this feature helps your text wrap beautifully, making all lines visible. Sometimes, adjusting the cell width is also necessary to prevent any content from being hidden. Select the cells, right-click, and choose Format Cells, or use the Ctrl + 1 shortcut to access the Alignment tab and enable "Wrap Text." Dragging the fill handle down will apply the same format to other cells. To see the results, simply go to Home > Alignment > Wrap Text, and voilà!

Steering Clear of Common Concatenation Errors

Concatenation in Excel can be tricky, with potential errors lurking at every turn. One wrong move, and your data could become a jumbled mess! To avoid common mistakes, be meticulous about extra spaces and punctuation. Concatenation doesn't automatically add spaces between elements, so include them in your strings to prevent words from running into each other. Use the CHAR function for line breaks—CHAR(10) on Windows or CHAR(13) on Mac—to insert a new line. Watch out for leading or trailing spaces, which can disrupt data sorting and searching. Additionally, ensure that number formatting is preserved correctly. Concatenating cells with numbers may convert them into text strings, so you might need the TEXT function to maintain or customize number formats.

Advanced Techniques for Excel Experts

Nested Functions with Concatenate

By combining the CONCATENATE function with other Excel functions, you can achieve more sophisticated data manipulation. For instance, nesting the TEXT function within CONCATENATE allows you to format dates and numbers specifically within your text string. Here’s an example: =CONCATENATE("Sales as of ", TEXT(TODAY(),"mmmm d, yyyy"), ": $", TEXT(B2,"#,##0.00")). This elegantly merges the formatted current date and currency into your text.

Consider nesting an IF function with CONCATENATE for a personalized message, like this: =CONCATENATE("Your payment is ", IF(C2="Yes", "received. Thank you!", "due. Please remit payment.")). Like layers in a gourmet dish, nesting functions with CONCATENATE can enhance the complexity and functionality of your data.

Creating Dynamic Data Visualizations

Leveraging CONCATENATE goes beyond simple data merging; it's about creating a compelling narrative that enhances understanding and engagement. To craft dynamic data visualizations in Excel, integrate CONCATENATE with functions like INDIRECT or VLOOKUP to pull in real-time data that updates automatically. This transforms your data into a dynamic story, not just a static report.

For data visualization enthusiasts, combining CONCATENATE with Conditional Formatting can highlight key information. Imagine using conditional formatting to make concatenated cells stand out when they contain specific keywords or exceed certain thresholds. CONCATENATE is a versatile tool that works seamlessly with conditional logic, lookups, and dynamic references to create insightful and clear data presentations.

FAQ: Easily Mastering Excel’s Concatenate Function

How do I insert a line break within an Excel cell using concatenate?

To insert a line break inside an Excel cell with the CONCATENATE function, use the CHAR function with code 10. The formula would be: =CONCATENATE(text1, CHAR(10), text2, ...). Ensure "Wrap Text" is enabled for the cell to display the line break properly.

What are common applications of concatenation with line breaks in Excel?

Common uses of concatenation with line breaks include creating multi-line address labels from separate columns, combining lists where each item appears on a new line, and formatting output for better readability, such as in reports or dashboards.

How do you concatenate with a separator in Excel?

In Excel, you can merge cells with a separator using the CONCATENATE function or the ‘&’ operator, like this: =CONCATENATE(A2, " - ", B2) or =A2 & " - " & B2. Replace ” – ” with your desired separator. For multiple cells with the same separator, use the TEXTJOIN function: =TEXTJOIN(" - ", TRUE, A2:C2). The second argument determines whether empty cells are ignored (TRUE) or included (FALSE).

How do you code a line break in Excel?

In Excel, you code a line break using the CHAR function with the number 10. In a formula, you would use =CHAR(10). Don't forget to turn on "Wrap Text" in the cell format to make the line break visible.

Conclusion

This article has walked you through three quick methods to combine text from different cells with line breaks. You can use either the concatenate function, the & operator, or the TEXTJOIN function.

Remember to enable Wrap Text for the cell when using Excel Concatenate with a new line!

The above is the detailed content of 3 Quick & Easy ways to Concatenate Excel With A Line Break. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!