Center Across Selection

[3link]

My spreadsheet has a built-in sorting feature, so I'm attempting to use the center across selection alternative to merge. Here's a sample of what my data looks like without merge or center across selection (focus on the 2nd row).

My desired result is to have the 2nd rows look centered, like this:

The center across selection feature does achieve this result, BUT only when all 4 columns (LR1, LR2, RC and LG) are filled. Here's what my data looks like with merge across selection if 3 of 4 of the colmns are empty:

This is a problem because there will be times when one or more of those four columns are empty.

Note that when activating the merge across selection feature, I was only selecting two cells at a time (2 for LR1, 2 for LR2 ect). I was not selecting all of the cells in the second row. Regardless, this is still the result. Can anyone tell me how to limit the center across selection feature to 2 cells within a single row?

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

Could you put a space character in the first empty column?

 

[3link]

Thanks for your response

I'm not sure I understand. I tried putting a space in the first column just for kicks and nothing happened.

I just attempted to create a buffer column between each of the four columns to see if that'd do the trick. It does, but only when the buffer columns are not hidden. As soon as I hide those buffer columns, the entire row merges again.

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

I mean in the column where the -4 is in your second image.

 

[3link]

Oh. I see. That makes sense and would work. However, I'm trying to design this for other users. I think I'd confuse them if I told them to put a space in every empty column.

Thanks again, but I think I'll just have to do without this feature.

 

[xenou]

Without merging or centering across, you could indent the value - it would appear more centered that way (i.e., right-aligned in the second of the two grouped columns, and indented leftwards).

 

[3link]

Without merging or centering across, you could indent the value - it would appear more centered that way (i.e., right-aligned in the second of the two grouped columns, and indented leftwards).

Xenou,

Thank you for your response. Unfortunately, it won't work for me. I didn't provide all of the details in my initial post because it's a lot to explain. The second of the two group columns is hidden in its natural state. The user expands those columns via macro when he wants to input his results. Whatever solution I come up with would have to involve input in the first of the two grouped columns (the smaller one).