The most effective way to merge several files sharing the same tabs is to adopt a systematic process that guarantees maximal data incorporation. Here’s how to do this in an Excel sheet:
Open each File: The initial step is to open all the files that one intends to combine. Confirm that each File has the same tab names and format.
Use Power Query: In Excel, Power Query is a great advantage when merging data from different files. Click on the ‘Data’ tab, click on ‘Get Data,’ point to From File, and then click Folder. This allows all files in a given folder to be uploaded at once.
Load Files: After clicking the Folder, Power Query will display its contents, including files. Choose the files that you intend to merge, and Power Query will find that they have similar tabs.
Combine the Data: In Power Query, there is a feature that allows you to combine data from tabs that have similar names. Where the tab names will be specified by stating the respective tab names, Power Query will query and return all the relevant information scattered in the various files into a single database.
Close & Load: After the information is merged, please click on “Close & Load” to bring it back into Excel and create a new sheet.
This is because it allows handling large volumes of files within a short time, maintains uniformity in formatting, and reduces manual complications and errors.
