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The Concatenate function, or CONCAT in more recent versions of Excel, is used to join two or more text strings into one string.

The scenario steps in this example: The following steps the first example below would help an academic advisor to use two columns from a report about advisees to join the student ID number and the academic program to create a column with the Key needed in Colleague to run a process such as BEVL: Batch Academic Evaluation and generate one PDF with all advisees' degree audits.

The steps in the second example below explain how to take 2 columns, such as first and last name columns, and combine them into a full name column.

Step-by-step guide

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Example: Combining Student ID and Program Columns into a Colleague Key

• In Microsoft Excel, select a column for entering the new information.
• Click on an empty cell at the top of the column.
• Type the following formula:
  • =CONCATENATE(A2,"*",B2)
  • If you are combining contents from other columns instead, use their labels.
  • Excel help text appears as you type to remind you of the next step in the formula.
  • A comma separates each component of the formula.
  • In this example, typing "*" between A2 and B2 inserts an asterisk between the ID and the program. This is important in Colleague keys. The key won't work without the asterisk.
• Press enter, and the formula will be replaced with the results as shown below.
• Click on the cell and "drag" the formula from the top cell down to the bottom of your list. Hint: double-clicking on the cell's bottom-right corner will quickly populate the whole column and stop where the text in the adjacent column stops.

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Example: Combining First and Last Name Columns into a Full Name Column (LastName, FirstName)

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• In Microsoft Excel, select a column for entering the new information.
• Click on an empty cell at the top of the column.
• Type the following formula:
  • =CONCATENATE(

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• • B2,", ",A2)
  • By entering B2 before A2, you can choose LastName, FirstName formatting for your column. If you prefer FirstName LastName instead, type "=CONCATENATE(A2," ",B2). Entering " " adds the space between the names.
  • If you are combining contents from other columns instead, use their labels.
  • Excel help text appears as you type to remind you of the next step in the formula.
  • A comma separates each component of the formula.
  • In this example, typing ", " between B2 and A2 inserts a comma and space between the last name and first name.
• Press enter, and the formula will be replaced with the results as shown below.
• Click on the cell and "drag" the formula from the top cell down to the bottom of your list. Hint: double-clicking on the cell's bottom-right corner will quickly populate the whole column and stop where the text in the adjacent column stops.

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