Extracting data from either of two columns

[richardthelionheart]

I have data arriving sometimes in column A and sometimes in column B or column C but only in one oF the three at the same time.. So if there's data in rows in column A, column B and column C at that time would be vacant and vice versa. All the data is of the same nature. Here's an example 12 - 24 - 36 So I'm looking for a formula which can look in column A or column B or column C and consolidate/merge all the columns into one ie column D. I really have no idea whether this is even possible. I know that probably 'search" "find" "IF" or similar will play a part. I would really appreciate some help on this.

 

[Alex Blakenburg]

Is your data all text or all numeric or a mixture ?

Here are a couple of options:

Book3
	A	B	C	D	E
1	Col A	Col B	Col C	Result Concatenate	Result Text Join
2	Hello there			Hello there	Hello there
3		2nd line		2nd line	2nd line
4			One more line	One more line	One more line
5	12			12	12
6		24		24	24
7			36	36	36
Sheet1

Cell Formulas
Range	Formula
D2:D7	D2	=IFERROR(VALUE(A2&B2&C2),A2&B2&C2)
E2:E7	E2	=IFERROR(VALUE(TEXTJOIN("",TRUE,A2:C2)),TEXTJOIN("",TRUE,A2:C2))

 

[richardthelionheart]

Is your data all text or all numeric or a mixture ?

All the entries follow the same format eg 33 - 22 - 55
Thank you Alex for your reply.
So I would embrace your 2nd option ??

 

[Alex Blakenburg]

I can't tell whether you have that in one cell or not. If it is in 1 cell it must be text, in that case the formulas are much simpler and you only need either

=A2&B2&C2

Or

=TEXTJOIN("",TRUE,A2:C2)

 

[richardthelionheart]

Thank you once again, Alex

each entry in one cell only, not 3 as it might look, is like this..........

44 - 22 - 66

So, I'm guessing that although it looks like number it would in fact be treated as text ??

 

[Alex Blakenburg]

Both my original formulas in Post #2 are more flexible and would handle it, if your data is consistently in that format you don't need the additional complexity and either of the 2 formulas in post #4 should do the job for you. Have you tried them ?

 

[richardthelionheart]

Thank you, Alex. I will have a 'dummy run' over the next short period, say 20 mins or so, and let you know.

 

[Peter_SSs]

I suggest that you update your Account details (or click your user name at the top right of the forum) so helpers always know what Excel version(s) & platform(s) you are using as the best solution often varies by version. (Don’t forget to scroll down & ‘Save’)

although it looks like number it would in fact be treated as text

If they are text then, depending on your version, it seems one of these should do it?

=CONCAT(A2:C2)

=A2&B2&C2