What are Merge Tables in Excel?
Merge Tables in Excel are a powerful feature that allows users to combine data from multiple tables into a consolidated one. This functionality is particularly useful when working with large datasets or merging information from different sources. Merge Tables can intelligently match corresponding records and merge the relevant columns using unique identifiers, such as primary keys. It results in a comprehensive table that contains all the combined data, eliminating the need for manual copy-pasting or complex formulas.
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Key Takeaways
- Merge Tables in Excel is a powerful feature that allows users to combine data from two or more tables into a single consolidated table. This functionality is particularly useful when dealing with large datasets that must be analyzed collectively.
- Using the Pivot Table process, we can merge multiple tables, surpassing the limitation of only two tables.
- While merging tables, each table must possess a shared column, serving as a unifying factor.
- This particular column will be the primary key during the merging process. Consequently, this field must contain exclusively unique values.
How to Merge Two Tables in Excel?
Merging two tables in Excel can be a seamless process when following specific steps.
Step 1: Firstly, open the workbook containing both tables and ensure they are adjacent or positioned on the same worksheet.
Step 2: Next, identify a unique identifier in both tables, such as a common column or data point.
Step 3: This identifier will allow accurate record matching during the merge process.
Step 4: With the first table selected, navigate to the “Data” tab at the top of Excel and click on “Consolidate” within the “Data Tools” group.
Step 5: A dialog box will appear where we can specify the range of each table by selecting its corresponding range button and then highlighting all relevant cells.
Step 6: Ensure we select the “Top row” and “Left column” options if applicable.
Step 7: In this dialog box, select “Add” to include subsequent ranges from other tables.
Step 8: Click the “OK” button once all ranges are added. Excel will merge the tables based on our instructions and display them within our existing worksheet or a new sheet in our chosen location.
By following these clear steps, merging two tables in Excel can be effortlessly accomplished.
Examples
Let us look at some examples of how to merge tables in Excel.
Example #1 – Sheet 1: Table 1: Business Info
Given below are two tables. In both tables, the common information that will serve as the basis for creating a relationship between them is the “Product Number.”
To merge these two tables, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Click on any cell in the “Product Content Info” table. Go to the “Insert” tab and select the “Table” option under the “Tables” section.
Step 2: A “Create Table” dialog box will appear. Since our table “Product Content Info” has column headers, check the checkbox that says, “My table has headers.”
Step 3: It will convert our data into a table format. Now, click on the “Table Name” field under the “Properties” section and give the table the name “Product_Content_Info.”
Step 4: Repeat the same steps for the other table, “Product Sales.”
Step 5: Click anywhere on the “Product Content Info” table, then go to the “Insert” tab and select the “PivotTable” option under the “Tables” section.
Step 6: A dialog box for “Create PivotTable” will appear.
Tick the checkbox that says, “Add this data to the Data Model,” as shown in the screenshot.
Click OK.
Step 7: It will open a new sheet with a new Pivot Table Fields section on the right side, as the screenshot depicts. In this section, click on the “ALL” tab. This will display all the tables we have created.
Step 8: Under the “Calculations” section, click on the “Relationships” option.
Step 9: A dialog box for creating a relationship between these tables will open. Click on the “New” button, as indicated in the screenshot.
Step 10: Another dialog box will appear, listing the created tables. As there is one common In the “Table” section, select “Product_Content_Info,” and in the “Column (Foreign)” section, choose the “Product Number.” field.
- Next, select the “Product_Sales” table from the “Related Table” section and choose the “Product Number” field from the “Related Column” section.
- The primary key consists of unique values that appear only once in the table. Once we have made our selections, click on “OK.”
Step 11: Now, we can drag and drop the fields to see the desired result. Click on the “Product Content Info” table in the “ROWS” box, and drag the fields “Product Number,” “Dairy Product,” and “Percentage Fat.”
Step 12: Place the “Product Number” field of the “Product Sales” table in the “COLUMNS” box and the “VALUES” box for the “Sales” count. The final result can be seen below.
Example #2 – Sheet 2: Table 2: Employee Details
Below, we have two tables. In both tables, the key information to establish a relationship between them is the Emp ID. To merge these two tables, follow the steps outlined below:
Step 1: Select any cell within the Emp Details table. Proceed to the INSERT tab and choose the Table option in the Tables section.
Step 2: A dialog box titled Create Table will appear. Ensure that the checkbox labeled “My table has headers” is checked, as our table, Emp Details, contains column headers.
Step 3: Now, our data is converted into a table format. Now, navigate to the Table Name field within the Properties section and assign the table “Emp_Details.”
Step 4: Repeat the same process for the Emp Department table. We have designated this table as “Emp_Dep.”
Step 5: Click anywhere within the Emp Details table, then proceed to the Insert tab and select the PivotTable option within the Tables section.
Step 6: A dialog box titled Create PivotTable will appear.
- Ensure that the “Add this data to the Data Model” checkbox is selected, as depicted in the accompanying screenshot.
- Click OK. As the screenshot illustrates, this will open a new sheet featuring a Pivot Table Fields section on the right side.
Step 7: Click on the ALL tab within the PivotTable Fields section. This will display all the tables we have created.
Step 8: In the Calculations section, select the Relationships option.
Step 9: A dialog box for establishing a relationship between these tables will open. Click on the New button, as indicated in the screenshot.
Step 10: Another dialog box will appear, listing the created tables.
- As there is one common field, select Emp_Details within the Table section, and choose the Emp ID field within the Column (Foreign) section.
- Next, select the Emp_Dep table from the Related Table section, and for the Related Column, select Emp ID.
- The primary key comprises unique values that appear only once in the table. After making our selections, click on the “OK” button.
Step 11: Now, we can drag and drop the fields as required to achieve the desired outcome. Begin by clicking on the ” Emp Details ” table in the “ROWS” box, and then drag the field “Emp ID.”
Step 12: Next, place the “Emp ID,” “Emp Name,” and “Department” table in the “COLUMNS” box and the “VALUES” box for the “Age” count. The final result can be observed below.
Important Things To Note
- Users can choose how to handle matching records, such as keeping both values, updating with new data, or creating a new entry altogether using merge tables in Excel.
- The Merge Tables in Excel feature streamlines data analysis and reporting tasks while maintaining accuracy and efficiency, making it an invaluable tool for professionals working with extensive datasets in Excel.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The benefit of merging tables in Excel lies in its ability to streamline and enhance data analysis.
• By merging multiple tables using merge tables in Excel, we can consolidate information from different sources into a comprehensive dataset.
• Merging tables allows for easier data comparison and evaluation, helping identify patterns that may otherwise be missed.
• Merging tables also simplifies creating reports and presentations, as users can access all relevant information in one place.
• Furthermore, professionals can improve data accuracy and consistency through merging, as any changes to the original datasets will automatically reflect in the merged table.
There are several limitations to consider when merging tables in Excel.
• First, merging tables with large datasets can lead to performance issues and slower response times. As the tables’ size increases, the processing time required to merge them increases significantly.
• Additionally, Excel limits the number of rows and columns it can handle, which means that very large tables may need to be split into smaller chunks before they can be merged.
• Another limitation is that merging tables requires a common key or identifier to accurately match the records from different tables. If this key is missing or incorrectly specified, the merge operation may result in incorrect or incomplete data.
• Furthermore, merging tables with different data types or formats can be challenging as Excel might struggle to handle inconsistencies effectively.
• Merging combines multiple tables, enabling users to analyze and manipulate the data more efficiently.
• When merging, Excel matches similar columns from different tables based on specified key values or unique identifiers.
• The resulting merged table contains all the rows from the original tables, with corresponding columns aligned correctly.
• The merged data can be manipulated further by sorting, filtering, pivoting, and calculations.
• Merging tables does not alter or delete any original data; instead, it creates a new table presenting a consolidated view of the combined information.
• It is important to exercise caution while merging tables, as inaccurately matched key values may lead to incorrect or skewed results.
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