HOW TO: Consolidate Multiple Worksheets to a Single Sheet in Excel

This step-by-step article describes how to consolidate multiple worksheets to a single sheet in Excel.

You can summarize data from one or more source areas by consolidating it and creating a consolidation table. These source areas can be on the same worksheet as the consolidation table, on different sheets in the same workbook, or in different workbooks. When you consolidate the source data, you apply a summary function, such as the SUM() function, to create the summary data.

There are two ways to consolidate data: by category or by position.

• Consolidation by position: When the data in the source areas is arranged in the same order and uses the same labels. Use this method to consolidate data from a series of worksheets, such as departmental budget worksheets that have been created from the same template.
  
  
• Consolidation by category: When the data in the source areas is not arranged in the same order but uses the same labels. Use this method to consolidate data from a series of worksheets that have different layouts but have the same data labels.

How to Consolidate Data by Position

To consolidate data by position, follow these steps:

1. Type the following data on Sheet1:

          A1:Letter B1:Code Number   C1:More Number
          A2:A      B2:50            C2:62
          A3:H      B3:99            C3:11
          A4:G      B4:86            C4:68
          A5:K      B5:18            C5:31
          A6:K      B6:67            C6: 9
   					

2. Type the following data on Sheet2:

          A1:Letter B1:Code Number   C1:More Number
          A2:M      B2:38            C2:17
          A3:H      B3:53            C3:25
          A4:G      B4:48            C4:18
          A5:C      B5:59            C5:53
          A6:K      B6:78            C6:97
   					

3. Click the upper-left cell of the destination area for the consolidated data. In this example, click cell A1 on Sheet3.
4. On the Data menu, click Consolidate.
5. In the Function list, select the summary function that you want Microsoft Excel to use to consolidate the data. In this example, use Sum.
6. In the Reference box, type each source area you want to consolidate, and then click Add. In this example, type the first area, Sheet1!$A$1:$C$6, and then click Add. Type the second area, Sheet2!$A$1:$C$6 and then click Add.
7. Repeat step 6 for all of the source areas that you want to consolidate.
8. Under Use labels in, select the Top row check box and the Left column check box (in this example, there are labels both on the first row and also in the left column).
9. Click OK.

How to Consolidate Data by Category

To consolidate data by category, follow these steps:

1. Type the following data on Sheet1:

         A2:A        B2:50          C2:62
         A3:H        B3:99          C3:11
         A4:G        B4:86          C4:68
         A5:K        B5:18          C5:31
         A6:K        B6:67          C6: 9
   
        A12:M       B12:38         C12:17
        A13:H       B13:53         C13:25
        A14:G       B14:48         C14:18
        A15:C       B15:59         C15:53
        A16:K       B16:78         C16:97
   					

2. Click the upper-left cell of the destination area for the consolidated data, which would be cell A1 on Sheet2.
3. On the Data menu, click Consolidate.
4. In the Function list, select the summary function that you want Microsoft Excel to use to consolidate the data. In this example, use Sum.
5. In the Reference box, type each source area you want to consolidate and then click Add. Type the first area, Sheet1!$A$2:$C$6 and then click Add. Type the second area, Sheet1!$A$12:$C$16 and then click Add.
6. Repeat step 5 for all source areas you want to consolidate.
7. Under Use labels in, click to select the Left column check box (in this example, there are labels in the left column).
8. Click OK.

NOTE: If you want Microsoft Excel to update your consolidation table automatically when the source data changes, select the Create links to source data check box. You cannot create links when source and destination areas are on the same sheet.

Selecting Source Areas for a Consolidation Table

You specify the source areas of the data that you want to summarize in the Reference box of the Consolidate dialog box. Use these guidelines to define source areas:

• When the sources and destination are on the same worksheet, use cell references.
• When the sources and destination are on different worksheets, use sheet and cell references.
• When the sources and destination are in different workbooks, use book, sheet, and cell references.
• When the sources and destination are in different workbooks in different locations on a disk, use the full path, book, sheet, and cell references. You can also type the complete path, workbook name, and sheet name for the source area. Type an exclamation point following the sheet name, and then type the cell reference or name of the source area.
• When the source area is a named range, use its name.

TIP: To enter a source definition without typing, click in the Reference box, and then select the source area.

For more information about Consolidating Data, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu, type Consolidate Data in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.