Smartsheet Tips: How to Merge Cells for Better Data Presentation
Introduction
Smartsheet is an efficient and versatile tool for project management and team collaboration. One of its features, similar to other spreadsheet programs, is the ability to merge cells. Merging cells can improve the visual appeal of your sheets, making them more readable and organized. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of merging cells in Smartsheet.
The Purpose of Merging Cells in Smartsheet
Merging cells can serve several purposes. It can help you create clear and informative headers, make particular pieces of data stand out, or simply improve the overall layout and aesthetics of your sheet. However, it’s important to remember that merging cells can affect formulas and references in your sheet, so it should be done thoughtfully.
How to Merge Cells in Smartsheet
Merging cells in Smartsheet is a straightforward process, and here’s how you can do it:
1. Selecting the Cells
First, you need to select the cells that you want to merge. Click on the first cell, hold down the shift key, and then click on the last cell in the range you want to merge. Note that you can only merge cells in the same row or column, not across both rows and columns simultaneously.
2. Merging the Cells
Once you’ve selected the cells, right-click on the selection and then click on ‘Merge Cells’ from the dropdown menu. This will merge the selected cells into one larger cell.
3. Unmerging the Cells
If you need to unmerge the cells at any point, simply right-click on the merged cell and select ‘Unmerge Cells’ from the dropdown menu.
Tips for Merging Cells in Smartsheet
While merging cells in Smartsheet is a straightforward process, there are a few tips you should keep in mind to avoid potential issues:
- Be careful when merging cells that contain data. The data in the upper-left-most cell will be preserved, but data in other cells will be discarded.
- Merging cells can affect the behavior of certain features in Smartsheet, such as indenting and outdenting, or exporting to Excel.
- If you’re merging cells with the intent to create a header or label, consider using the text formatting options in Smartsheet to further enhance the visibility and appearance of your text.
Conclusion
Merging cells in Smartsheet is a simple but effective way to enhance the presentation of your data. By understanding how to properly merge and unmerge cells, you can create more organized, readable, and visually appealing sheets. As with any feature, it’s important to use cell merging judiciously and be aware of how it can impact other aspects of your sheet.