Many times, I want a description for my data. One approach is to put the description—a simple text string—near the cell containing the data that needs describing. For instance, a numeric value could go in cell B3, and the unit description in cell C3, which read together may be something like "3.27 miles."
Another approach is to put the description text and the numeric value together. Creating text strings easily accomplishes this feat. Here's a very simple example that displays "1 + 1 is 2."
="1 + 1 is " & 1+1
The quotation marks are important. By making the text string part of a formula, you can combine the description and the value within one cell.
The disadvantage of this approach is formatting the value takes more effort; since the result is a text string, numeric cell formatting does not apply. For example, consider the above formula and the need to display two decimal places. One might naturally display the Format Cell dialog box and then choose a Number format that has two decimal places, but the results would not change. (Remember, the result of the formula is text, not a number.)
To affect the value formatting, use the TEXT function. To force the above results to display the value to two decimal places, use the following formula.
="1 + 1 is " & TEXT(1+1, "0.00")
The different formats you can use with the TEXT function have been covered in other issues of ExcelTips, and you can also find more info in Excel's Help system. Here's an example that displays "Today is " along with today's date. Enter the following formula in some cell:
="Today is " & TEXT(NOW(),"dddd, mmm dd, yyyy")
Again, the quotation marks are important, as you are constructing a text string.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (9306) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Office 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Combining Numbers and Text in a Cell.
Save Time and Supercharge Excel! Automate virtually any routine task and save yourself hours, days, maybe even weeks. Then, learn how to make Excel do things you thought were simply impossible! Mastering advanced Excel macros has never been easier. Check out Excel 2010 VBA and Macros today!
When you recalculate a worksheet, you can determine the maximum of a range of values. Over time, as those values change, ...
Discover MoreCircular references occur when a formula includes a reference to the cell in which the formula appears. Here's how you ...
Discover MoreWhen you add a named range to a worksheet, you can specify if you want that named range to apply to the workbook or only ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2019-07-04 02:59:29
SteveJez
Mohammed,
Add the 2 cells together, such as C2=A2+B2
then custom format the cell (Ctrl 1) Number - Custom & use
dd/mm/yyyy hh:mm:ss AM/PM as the format (see Figure 1 below)
HTH
Figure 1. Date Time Custom Format
2019-07-03 05:06:53
Mohammed Nufail
Hi. I have some data in excel. Date is in separate cell: Eg; (16/06/2019) . Time is in separate cell. Eg; (9:11:45 AM)
Need to combine together in to once cell. But when converted it comes with numbers only.
Can you please fix this
2019-03-30 16:59:37
Erik
In some cases, custom formatting might work better. For example, you can put "=NOW()" in a cell and it will remain a value. Then, highlight that cell, open the "Format Cells" window (ctrl-1 is one easy way), select the "Number" tab, and set the "Category:" to "Custom". Put this in the "Type:" box (including quotes):
"today is "dddd, mmm dd, yyyy
This method is works well for other instances, for example showing units. But is not ideal in cases where the text might frequently change, for example the 1+1 example.
2019-03-30 07:52:14
David R
To retain the cell as a numeric value and thence be able to affect the number of decimal places or use it as a number in a formula, etc, try custom formatting, ie "1+1=" # or some such. I use this a lot when I want to the number to be associated with a descriptive word like "Extra" or "Total = " or "Hold for tomorrow" or "George's share".
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2021 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments