Combining Data. How to Join Two Columns in Google Sheets

Manual instructions to join two columns in Google Sheets #

In Google Sheets, joining two columns is a common task that allows you to combine data from different columns into a single column. This can be useful when you want to consolidate information or perform further analysis on the combined data. Let's take a look at how to do it manually:

  1. Open Google Sheets and create a new or open an existing spreadsheet.
  2. Select the cell where you want to start the combined data. For example, if you want to combine columns A and B, select the cell where you want the combined data to start, such as C1.
  3. In the formula bar, type the following formula: =A1&B1. This formula concatenates (joins) the values in cell A1 and B1 together. You can adjust the references based on your desired column combination.
  4. Press Enter to apply the formula to the selected cell.
  5. The combined data will now appear in the selected cell. Drag down the formula to apply it to the remaining cells to combine more rows.

Google Apps Script for joining two columns in Google Sheets #

If you frequently need to join two columns in Google Sheets, you can automate the process using Google Apps Script. By creating a custom script, you can save time and effort by automatically combining the desired columns. Here's an example of a Google Apps Script that achieves this:

function joinColumns() {
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getActiveSheet();
  var columnA = sheet.getRange("A1:A").getValues().filter(String).flat();
  var columnB = sheet.getRange("B1:B").getValues().filter(String).flat();

  var combinedData = columnA.map(function(value, index) {
    return [value + columnB[index]];
  });

  var targetColumn = sheet.getRange(1, 3, combinedData.length, 1);
  targetColumn.setValues(combinedData);
}

To use this script:

  1. Open your Google Sheets document.
  2. Click on "Extensions" in the top menu, then select "Apps Script."
  3. In the Apps Script editor, paste the provided code.
  4. Save the script and close the editor.
  5. Now, you can run the script by navigating back to your spreadsheet and clicking on the "Extensions" menu, selecting "Apps Script," and then choosing "joinColumns" from the list of functions. The script will combine the data from columns A and B, placing the result in column C.

Use case examples #

Joining two columns in Google Sheets can be useful in various scenarios. Here are a few use case examples:

  1. Merging first and last names: Suppose you have separate columns for first names and last names. By joining these columns, you can create a single column with full names.
  2. Combining addresses: If you have separate columns for street addresses, cities, states, and zip codes, you can join them all into a single address column for mail merge purposes.
  3. Creating unique identifiers: Joining columns can help you generate unique identifiers for records. For instance, combining a company code column with a unique ID column can create a unique identifier for each company record.

These are just a few examples, but the possibilities are virtually endless. Combining data in Google Sheets allows for efficient data consolidation and analysis, enabling you to make more informed decisions based on the joined information.

To join tables in Google Sheets, you can follow these steps.
If you want to join two cells in Google Sheets, here's a guide on how to do it.
To learn how to join two columns in Google Sheets, check out this helpful tutorial.
If you need to delete duplicates in Google Sheets, you can follow these instructions.
Here's a guide on finding duplicates in a column in Google Sheets that you might find useful.

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