Possible to add new data to entire column without changing contents in individual cells?

[mohair.sam]

Hello,
I have an ongoing project for which I get an Excel file (PC-generated)
of names and contacts that I open on my Mac (10.4.7; Excel 11.2.5). Two
columns of data contain contact info for each name. I need to take this
data file into Word, which I do by saving as a tab-delimited file and
opening in Word. Once in Word, I have to go in and add the contact type
(phone, fax, e-mail, URL, etc.) by hand, line by line.

Here's what I'm wondering: Is it possible to add this data to each
appropriate column in Excel, to where it shows up in each cell of a
given column---but without replacing the vital data already there?
Here's what I mean:

XXX.XXX.XXXX
XXX.XXX.XXXX
.... and so on becomes:

V: XXX.XXX.XXXX
V: XXX.XXX.XXXX
....and so on?

I've been all through the Help file and can't find an entry on this, so
I've assumed it's not possible. Can anyone advise me as to whether this
is possible, and if so, how I would go about doing this? It would save
a ton of time, to be sure.

TIA, and sorry for the "idiot-level" question!

Sam

 

[Jay]

Hello,
I have an ongoing project for which I get an Excel file (PC-generated)
of names and contacts that I open on my Mac (10.4.7; Excel 11.2.5). Two
columns of data contain contact info for each name. I need to take this
data file into Word, which I do by saving as a tab-delimited file and
opening in Word. Once in Word, I have to go in and add the contact type
(phone, fax, e-mail, URL, etc.) by hand, line by line.

Here's what I'm wondering: Is it possible to add this data to each
appropriate column in Excel, to where it shows up in each cell of a
given column---but without replacing the vital data already there?
Here's what I mean:

XXX.XXX.XXXX
XXX.XXX.XXXX
... and so on becomes:

V: XXX.XXX.XXXX
V: XXX.XXX.XXXX
...and so on?

I've been all through the Help file and can't find an entry on this, so
I've assumed it's not possible. Can anyone advise me as to whether this
is possible, and if so, how I would go about doing this? It would save
a ton of time, to be sure.

TIA, and sorry for the "idiot-level" question!

Sam

If you're after just a way of adding text to a cell's contents without
having to manually enter & edit that cell you could always try the
following:

Add the new data (contact type is it?) in the adjacent cell, and simply
concatenate it to the remainder of the text in the next cell. So if A1
contains your existing data, add the contact type to B1, and in C1 enter
the formula =A1&" "&B1. Copy the formula down for each row.

This will allow you to simply enter the contact types in column B and
column C will give you the contact type added to the related text. If
you want the contact type before the rest just put that column first in
the formula = B1&" "&A1.
If you have two existing columns just add this to the concatentaion,i.e
=A1&" "&B1&" "&C1

If I've misunderstood your question just post more details.

HTH

Jason