What Is Concatenate Date In Excel?
Concatenate Date in Excel helps combine a date in a specific format along with other related information. To Concatenate Date Values in Excel, first, convert the original dates into text by formatting them as “dd/mm/yyyy” or “mm/dd/yyyy”. Then, insert the “&” sign to join the strings while maintaining their formatting.
The image below shows the text containing dates that we intend to merge using the CONCATENATE function with the TEXT function in Excel.
Input the complete formula utilizing the TEXT function, which is =CONCATENATE(TEXTAB2, “DD,MMM, YYYY”), ” is “, B2), into cell C2, and press the “Enter” key.
The resulting value in cell C2 should be “01-Jan-2023 is New Year”, as shown above.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- Concatenate Date in Excel combines two or more date cells into a single cell, and is helpful when data needs to be sorted or searched based on chronological order.
- It also ensures that the cells containing the dates are properly formatted as dates within Excel.
- Add separators such as dashes or slashes between each concatenated date may also be helpful for increased readability.
- It is imperative to understand the appropriate usage of the CONCAT() and CONCATENATE() functions. The former can accommodate a range of values, whereas the latter requires manual entry of each value.
How To Concatenate Date In Excel?
We can Concatenate Date In Excel in 2 ways, namely:
- Combine Text with Dates Using CONCATENATE function.
- Concatenate Text with Dates Using Alternative Method.
In Excel, concatenating dates involves merging two or more data values into a single cell. The simplest way to concatenate a date is to use the “&” operator between individual date cells.
A few points to keep in mind before we concatenate the dates are,
- First, it’s important to format them correctly. Right-click on the cell, and select Format Cells>Custom. In the Type field, enter “mm/dd/yyyy” (or your preferred formatting).
- Next, select the cell where you want to see the merged results, type “=” followed by the first cell reference (&), then add any desired delimiters within quotes (“-” or “/”), and repeat with all the cells until you’ve added all pieces of information. Then close with an & again, and press “Enter”.
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Examples
We will consider specific examples for Excel Concatenate Date using the above-mentioned ways.
Example #1 – Combine Text with Dates Using CONCATENATE Function
The image below displays text with dates that we will combine using the CONCATENATE function with the TEXT function in Excel.
The data in the table is presented as follows:
- Column A contains Names.
- Column B contains the Dates of Birth.
- Column C contains Place.
- Column D contains Output.
To compute a value using the Excel Formula, please adhere to the following steps:
- Step 1: Select the cell where the formula will be entered, and the result will be calculated. For this illustration, let us choose cell D2.
- Step 2: Enter the complete formula =CONCATENATE(A2,“ is born on ”,B2,“ in ”, C2) in cell D2.
Please take note of the date section in cell D2. Unfortunately, we do not possess an exact date at this time. When utilizing the CONCATENATE function in Excel, the formula interprets the date as a numerical value. We must convert the numerical value into a date format using the Excel TEXT function to rectify this.
- Step 3: Enter the complete formula with the TEXT function =CONCATENATE(A2,“ is born on ”,TEXT(B2,“DD,MMM,YYYY”),“ in ”, C2) in cell D2.
- Step 4: Press the Enter key. The resulting value in cell D2 should display as “Daniel is born on 05-Sep-1999 in Canada“, as shown in the accompanying image.
- Step 5: To continue, press Enter and drag the formula from cell D2 to D6 using the fill handle, as demonstrated in the subsequent image.
The output is shown above.
Example #2 – Concatenate Text with Dates Using Alternative Method
The following image showcases text containing dates we will merge using the Alternative Method, utilizing the TEXT function in Excel. This approach will enable us to combine the dates and present them clearly and concisely.
The data in the table is presented as follows:
- Column A contains Item.
- Column B contains Status.
- Column C contains Dates.
- Column D contains Output.
To compute a value using the Excel Formula, please adhere to the following steps:
- Step 1: Select the cell where the formula will be entered, and the result will be calculated. For this illustration, let us choose cell D2.
- Step 2: Enter the complete formula with the TEXT function, which is =A2&” was “&B2&” on “&TEXT(C2,”DD-MMM-YYYY”) in cell D2.
- Step 3: Press the Enter key. The resulting value in cell D2 should display as “Daniel is born on 05-Sep-1999 in Canada“, as shown in the accompanying image.
- Step 4: To continue, press Enter and drag the formula from cell D2 to D5 using the fill handle, as demonstrated in the subsequent image.
The output is shown above.
Important Things To Note
- The order in which dates are concatenated in Excel is paramount. If the year is concatenated before the month, Excel will not recognize it as a valid date. Following the correct order to concatenate the month before the year is crucial.
- It is necessary to use the “Date” function within the concatenate formula to ensure that Excel interprets the date values correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The advantages of concatenating date values in Excel are as follows:
• It makes analyzing, sorting, and manipulating data easier. It further streamlines reporting tasks by eliminating duplicate information when working with large data.
• Concatenation shortens the date’s length as multiple dates are combined into a single field.
• It saves time for users who work with large datasets. It is also helpful when creating charts or graphs that require multiple date values to be displayed together on a single axis or table.
When working with Date values in Excel, concatenating allows for merging different date components into a single cell, string, or text. It is useful when dealing with various data formats not recognized by Excel and when constructing databases that require uniformity to improve data analysis. To concatenate date values in Excel, use the “&” character to combine cells that contain different text strings. After converting the dates into text, this operation should be performed using formulas such as TEXT or CONCATENATE. It is essential to ensure that all cell data is formatted properly before concatenation takes place, and it’s vital to take note of separator characters between concatenated elements within the formula.
The image below displays text that includes dates we aim to merge using Excel’s “&” operator in conjunction with the TEXT function. Our proficiency in Excel will enable us to combine these dates and present them cohesively and seamlessly.
To complete the formula utilizing the TEXT function, please enter the following into cell C2: =TEXT(B2, “DD-MMM-YYYY”)&” was “&A2. After entering each value, press the Enter key.
Once completed, the resulting value in cell C2 will be 31-Dec-2020 was Christmas, as shown above.
Some potential issues and limitations should be considered when using this approach.
• One limitation is consistency in entering dates to ensure they can be concatenated accurately. If dates are formatted differently or stored as text instead of a date format, concatenation may result in errors or unusable data.
• Another limitation is that concatenated dates cannot be sorted chronologically, making it challenging to analyze time-based trends or patterns.
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