Excel AppNote: Text Concatenation (ME0197)

 Last reviewed: October 7, 1997
Article ID: Q50886
1.00 1.03 1.04 1.06 1.50 2.20 3.00 MACINTOSH kbappnote ME0197 kbother

The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, version 1.x, 2.x, 3.0

SUMMARY

The application note "Text Concatenation" (ME0197) is now available from Microsoft Product Support Services. This application note describes how to use the special text operator "&" to concatenate (string together) several text values in Microsoft Excel.

You can obtain this Application Note from the following sources:

  • Microsoft Product Support Services

For complete information, see the "To Obtain This Application Note" section at the end of this article.

THE TEXT OF ME0197

  Microsoft(R) Product Support Services Application Note (Text File)
                            TEXT CONCATENATION

                                                   Revision Date: 07/91
                                                       No Disk Included
The following information applies to Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 1.0, 1.03, 1.04, 1.06, 1.5, 2.2, and 3.0. 

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You can use the special text operator "&" to concatenate (string together) several text values. The following are examples of how concatenation can be used:

  1. Use the ampersand (&) to join two or more text values into a new text value. If cell A2 contains the text entry Jim, and cell B3 contains the text entry McDevit, use the following formulas: 

          Formula             Text Value
                          Produced
      --------------------------------------

      =A2&B3              JimMcDevit
      =A2&" "&B3          Jim McDevit
      =B3&", "&A2         McDevit, Jim
      ="Mr. "&B3&", "&A2  Mr. McDevit, Jim

  2. Use concatenation in combination with macro functions. For example, suppose you want to be able to open any of your monthly inventory worksheets by specifying the month of the inventory. The names of your monthly inventory worksheets vary by a string of text: Western.Jan, Western.Feb, Western.Mar, and Western.Apr. Use the INPUT command to specify the month, and use the following sequence of commands to concatenate the month with "Western.": 

          B6:   =SET.NAME("Month",INPUT("Enter the month:",2))
      B7:   =OPEN("Western."&Month)

   Entering the month in the proper format for the input dialog box will
   open the corresponding worksheet for that month.

  3. Use concatenation in a macro to string together a formula and display the new formula in the formula bar.

    For example, if the active cell contains the number 2 and a macro is run containing the command 

          =FORMULA("="&ACTIVE.CELL()&"*100")

    then the active cell will display 200, and the formula bar will display =2*100.

TO OBTAIN THIS APPLICATION NOTE

You can have this Application Note mailed or faxed to you by calling Microsoft Product Support Services Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Pacific time at (425) 635-7080. If you are outside the United States, contact the Microsoft subsidiary for your area. To locate your subsidiary, see the Microsoft World Wide Offices Web site at: 

   http://www.microsoft.com/worldwide/default.htm
This file has been removed from the Software Library but can be requested by calling Microsoft Product Support Services.

KBCategory: kbappnote
KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 1.00 1.03 1.04 1.06 1.50 2.20 3.00 join
combine

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Last reviewed: October 7, 1997
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