In this lesson, we will learn such useful Microsoft Excel features as wrapping text across lines and merging multiple cells into one. Using these functions, you can wrap text across multiple lines, create headings for tables, fit long text on one line without increasing the width of the columns, and much more.
Very often, the content may not be completely displayed in the cell, because. its width is not enough. In such cases, you can choose one of two options: wrap text across lines or merge several cells into one without changing the column widths.
As text wraps, the line height will automatically change, allowing the content to appear on multiple lines. Merging cells allows you to create one large cell by merging several adjacent ones.
Wrap text in Excel
In the following example, we will apply line wrapping to column D.
- Select the cells in which you want to display text on multiple lines. In our example, we will highlight the cells in column D.
- Choose a team Move text tab Home.
- The text will wrap line by line.
Push command Move text again to cancel the transfer.
Merging cells in Excel
When two or more cells are merged, the resulting cell takes the place of the merged cell, but the data is not added together. You can merge any adjacent range, and even all cells on a sheet, and the information in all cells except the top left one will be deleted.
In the example below, we’ll merge the range A1:E1 to create a title for our sheet.
- Select the cells you want to merge.
- Push command Combine and place in the center tab Home.
- The selected cells will be merged into one, and the text will be placed in the center.
Button Combine and place in the center acts as a switch, i.e. clicking it again will cancel the merging. Deleted data will not be recovered.
More Options to Merge Cells in Excel
To access additional options for merging cells, click the arrow next to the command icon Combine and place in the center. A drop-down menu will appear, with the following commands:
- Merge and Center: Merges the selected cells into one and places the contents in the center.
- Merge by lines: Merges cells by row, i.e. a separate cell is formed in each line of the selected range.
- Merge cells: Merges cells into one without placing the content in the center.
- Unmerge cells: Cancels the union.