Excel Merge button is not the appropriate solution to combine columns into one list without losing the data because it keeps only the value from the upper left cell from the selection:
There are several ways to merge excel columns, but the commonly used are:
- Combine columns into one list with CONCATENATE function
- Merge excel columns using NotePad
This step by step tutorial will assist all levels of Excel users to combine multiple columns in Excel and Google Sheets into one column.
Delete a Column in Excel and Google Sheets
If we want to delete a column in Excel we have to select the column by clicking on the column header and to do the right mouse click and choose the Delete option in the drop-down list.
Figure 1. Delete a column in Excel
To delete columns in Google Sheets logic is almost the same. In column header in the down right corner open drop-down list and choose option Delete column.
Figure 2. Delete a column in Google Sheets
Delete a Row in Excel and Google Sheets
To delete a row in Excel we can use Delete tab under Home-Cells in Excel. First, we have to select the cell in the row to be deleted and to click on the Delete tab under the section Home-Cells.
Figure 3. Delete a row in Excel using Delete tab
Choose Delete Sheets Rows and row 4 will be deleted:
Figure 4. The Result after deleting
In Google Sheets, we can delete a row by clicking on the cell in the row to be deleted, right mouse clicking and selecting the option Delete row from the list.
Figure 5. Delete a row in Google Sheets
Delete Blank Cells in Excel
There is a fast solution to delete blank cells in Excel. First, we have to select the cell range where we want to remove empty cells in Excel and then to click on the Go to Special button under the tab Home-Editing-Find&Select
Figure 6. Remove empty cells in Excel
Choose Blanks and click on the OK button:
Figure 7. Select empty cells in Excel
As a result, we want to delete all rows that contain empty cell in the selected range. We should go to tab Home-Cells-Delete and choose Delete Sheet Rows:
Figure 8. Remove rows that contain blank cells
Finally, all rows that contain empty cells are deleted:
Figure 9. The final output of removing rows containing blank cells
If we want to delete just blank cells in the selected range, instead of choosing Delete Sheet Rows we should select Delete cells.
To delete blank cells in Excel Mac we should follow slightly different steps:
- Select the cell range, and then select Edit-Go To and click the Special button.
- Choose Blanks and select the OK button to confirm.
- Right mouse click on the selected empty cell, choose Delete and Entire row
- After pressing the OK button all rows with empty cells in excel mac will be deleted.
Delete Rows and Columns in Excel that Go On Forever
If we want to delete Rows or Columns in Excel that go on forever we can easily do that with keyboard shortcuts. First, we have to select the first row or column by clicking on the row or column header. Then, we can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Down arrow to select all rows or Ctrl+Shift+Right arrow to select all columns on the right side from the selected one.
Please note that if there are empty rows or columns after the selected ones we should press Down arrow (Right arrow) several times, while still holding Ctrl+Shift until entire rows and columns are selected.
Figure 10. Select rows in Excel that go on forever
Now we can delete rows or columns in excel that go on forever with keyboard shortcut Ctrl – or by right-clicking on the selected cells and pressing Delete.
Figure 11. Delete rows or columns in Excel that go on forever
Delete Multiple Cells in Excel or Google Sheets
To Delete multiple cells in Excel and respected rows we have to select the cells to be deleted and to press Delete Sheet Rows under the tab Home-Cells-Delete:
Figure 12. Select multiple cells in Excel
As a result rows with selected cells are deleted:
Figure 13. Delete multiple cells in Excel
If we want to delete columns with selected cells we have to choose Delete Sheet Columns under the tab Home-Cells-Delete.
In Google Sheets, we can delete multiple columns or rows by selecting the column/row header with left mouse clicking and pressing the keyboard tab Ctrl to select columns/rows:
Figure 14. Select multiple columns in Google Sheets
Right mouse click on the selected cells and choose Delete columns B-C:
Figure 15. Delete multiple columns in Google Sheets
If there were selected rows, we will have Delete rows option in the list.
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