Merge and Unmerge Cells
You can select a range of cells, then merge them into a single cell. Conversely, you can take a previously merged cell and divide it back into individual cells.
When you copy cells into a target range containing merged cells, the target range gets unmerged first, then the copied cells are pasted in. If the copied cells are merged cells, they retain their merge state.
Merge Cells
Merging cells can lead to calculation errors in formulae in the table.
To access this command...
Click and drag to select the cells to be merged then do one of the following:
In the Formatting toolbar click:
Merge Cells
Or, right click the selection to open the context menu and choose Merge Cells.
If Unmerge Cells is present instead then the cell selection contains merged cells and cannot be merged further.
Or, in the Properties sidebar mark the Merge Cells checkbox.
Or, choose Format - Merge and Unmerge Cells - Merge Cells
Or, choose Format - Merge and Unmerge Cells - Merge and Centre Cells
The cells will be merged and the content will be centred in the merged cell.
Cells cannot be merged again without first unmerging them.
Merging a cell selection that partially includes merged cells is generally possible with Unmerge Cells followed by Merge Cells, without altering the initial selection. The result will be largely depend on previous choices when merging cells made with the Merge Cells dialogue box options described below.
Multiple selection is not supported, that is, the selection must be rectangular.
The merged cell receives the name and content of the first cell of the selection.
If more than one cell to be merged has content the Merge Cells dialogue box opens.
Merge Cells Dialogue Box Options
Three options are available:
- Move the contents of the hidden cells into the first cell: The actual contents of the hidden cells are concatenated to the first cell, and hidden cells are emptied; the results of formulae referring to the hidden cells or the first cell will be updated.
- Keep the contents of the hidden cells: The contents of the hidden cells are kept; the results of formulae referring to the hidden cells will not change.
- Empty the contents of the hidden cells: The contents of the hidden cells are removed; the results of formulae referring to the hidden cells will be updated.
Unmerge Cells
To access this command...
Select the cell to be unmerged, or a selection that includes the cells to be unmerged then do one of the following:
In the Formatting toolbar, click:
Unmerge CellsSplit Cells
Or, right click the selection to open the context menu and choose Unmerge Cells.
If Merge Cells is present instead then the selection does not contain any merged cells.
Or, in the Properties sidebar clear the Merge Cells checkbox.
Or, choose Format - Merge and Unmerge Cells - Unmerge Cells.
Or, toggle Format - Merge and Unmerge Cells - Merge and Centre Cells