Creating A Center Across Selection Button In Excel

by Jacky Chou
Updated on

Key Takeaway:

  • Creating a Center Across Selection button in Excel is a quick and easy way to center text across multiple cells without merging cells.
  • To create a Center Across Selection button, first select the cells to be centered, then click on the “Home” tab, followed by “Alignment,” then “Merge & Center,” and finally “Center Across Selection.”
  • Using the Center Across Selection button can improve the readability and presentation of data in an Excel spreadsheet, making it easier to navigate and understand important information.

Are you struggling with managing data in Excel? If so, this article will show you how to create a center across selection button in Excel to simplify the data organization process. You’ll be able to easily organize your data in no time!

Steps to create a Center Across Selection button in Excel

  1. To create a center across selection button in Excel, follow these steps.
  2. Select the cells.
  3. Click the “Home” tab.
  4. Then, click “Alignment”.
  5. Next, click “Merge & Center”.
  6. Finally, click “Center Across Selection”.

Steps to create a Center Across Selection button in Excel-Creating a Center Across Selection Button in Excel,

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Harry Jones

Step 1: Select the cells to be centered

To begin centering cells, choose the appropriate cells to work with.

  1. Open your Excel Spreadsheet and navigate to the sheet containing the necessary data.
  2. Select the cells which you need to center.
  3. Highlight these selected cells by using your cursor or ctrl+click if not in a sequential pattern.
  4. Alternatively, press control+A on your keyboard to select all of the available cells in the current worksheet.
  5. If selecting multiple cells, hold down shift while clicking each cell.

Make sure to select only the required cells as this preparation is vital for the subsequent steps.

It would be best if you always double-checked that you have correctly selected all of the essential elements before searching for methods on how to center across selection in excel.

Pro Tip: Before considering how to center spans within excel, keep data use and readability in mind. A spreadsheet that doesn’t follow proper formatting guidelines can be challenging for users to read.

Don’t worry, you can always click back to the ‘Fun’ tab after creating your Center Across Selection button.

Step 2: Click on the “Home” tab

To access the necessary settings, follow the next step.

  1. Open Excel and locate the ‘Home’ tab on the top menu bar.
  2. Click on the ‘Home’ tab to open a range of formatting options for your spreadsheet.
  3. You will now see a ribbon with several different options for formatting, such as ‘Font’, ‘Alignment’, ‘Number’, and more.
  4. To center your text across cells, click on the ‘Alignment’ option within this ribbon.
  5. In the Alignment setting window that appears, you will see an option called ‘Center Across Selection.’ Click this option to apply it to your selected cells.

It’s essential to remember that using these settings can help make your data presentation more precise and professional.

A study by Microsoft suggests that centered text can improve the readability of spreadsheets for others, reducing confusion and mistakes.

Finally, an excuse to click on something in Excel that’s not ‘Save’ or ‘Exit’.

Step 3: Click on “Alignment”

To align the text in the center of a cell or range, follow these instructions:

  1. Select the cells that you want to center the text within.
  2. On the top menu bar, click on the “Home” tab.
  3. Underneath “Home,” you will see an option for “Alignment.” Click on it.
  4. A drop-down menu will appear. From this menu, choose the “Center Across Selection” option.
  5. The “Center Across Selection” button is now active, and your text should be centered in the selected cells.
  6. If necessary, adjust the width of your columns to ensure that all text appears fully centered.

It is important to note that “Center Across Selection” does not actually merge any cells together. Rather, it simply centers text across multiple cells without creating one large merged cell.

To further customize your text alignment options, explore other options within the Alignment menu such as horizontal or vertical alignment.

Finally, remember that consistent formatting can improve readability and enhance visual appeal. Consider applying alignment techniques across your entire workbook for a polished and professional look.

Don’t be afraid to click that Merge & Center button, just remember that with great power comes great spreadsheet responsibility.

Step 4: Click on “Merge & Center”

To merge and center text horizontally in Excel, follow the given steps:

  1. Select the cells you want to merge.
  2. Click on the ‘Home’ tab in the Excel ribbon.
  3. Find the ‘Alignment’ section.
  4. Access the dropdown menu next to ‘Merge & Center.’
  5. Select ‘Merge & Center,’ or ‘Merge Across,’ depending on your version of Excel.
  6. The selected cells should now be merged with text centered across them.

Be careful not to merge cells unnecessarily, as doing so can affect other parts of your worksheet unknowingly.

Pro Tip: Avoid merging cells repeatedly as this may make it difficult for you or others to manipulate data later on.

Get your text in line with ‘Center Across Selection’ – even if your life isn’t.

Step 5: Click on “Center Across Selection”

To center align the content across selected cells, follow the fifth step of clicking on “Center Across Selection” option.

To perform this action, follow these three simple steps:

  1. Select the cells where you want to center align your content.
  2. Click on the “Alignment” tab in the “Format Cells” dialog box.
  3. In the horizontal section, click on the drop-down arrow to find and select “Center Across Selection.”

It’s worth noting that this method is different from merging cells. Using this technique allows you to maintain individual cell addresses while aligning text seamlessly across them.

Pro Tip: Avoid overusing styles with center-merged cells, as it can impact navigation, readability, and formula errors.

Five Facts About Creating a Center Across Selection Button in Excel:

  • ✅ The Center Across Selection button is located in the “Alignment” section of the “Home” tab in Excel. (Source: Microsoft Support)
  • ✅ The Center Across Selection function allows you to center text across multiple cells without merging them. (Source: Excel Campus)
  • ✅ The Center Across Selection function is also known as the “Center Across Columns” function in Excel. (Source: Exceljet)
  • ✅ Using the Center Across Selection function can improve the readability and appearance of your Excel sheets. (Source: Excel Easy)
  • ✅ The Center Across Selection function can be used in conjunction with other formatting options, such as cell borders and font styles. (Source: Ablebits)

FAQs about Creating A Center Across Selection Button In Excel

What is a Center Across Selection Button in Excel?

A Center Across Selection Button in Excel is a formatting option that allows you to horizontally center text across multiple cells without merging cells. This option is useful when you want to create a heading or a label that spans across two or more cells but you don’t want to merge the cells together.

Where can I find the Center Across Selection Button in Excel?

The Center Across Selection Button can be found in the Alignment section of the Home tab in the Excel ribbon. Click on the small arrow located at the bottom right corner of the Alignment section to open the Format Cells dialogue box. From there, go to the Alignment tab to find the Center Across Selection option.

What is the difference between the Center Across Selection Button and the Merge Cells option in Excel?

The main difference between the Center Across Selection Button and the Merge Cells option in Excel is that the former centers the text across multiple cells without actually merging the cells together. This means that each cell remains separate and can be edited individually, which is not possible when cells are merged together using the Merge Cells option.

Can I apply Center Across Selection to multiple rows or columns at once?

Yes, you can apply the Center Across Selection format to multiple rows or columns at once. Simply select all the cells you want to format, and then access the Format Cells dialogue box from the Home tab in the Excel ribbon. Go to the Alignment tab and select the Center Across Selection option. This format will be applied to all selected cells automatically.

What happens to data in cells when I apply the Center Across Selection format?

When you apply the Center Across Selection format to a group of cells, the data contained in those cells stays in the same position. However, the text will be centered across the selected cells as if they were merged together. It’s important to note that this feature only affects the appearance of cells and does not change any data values or formulas in the cells.

Is there a shortcut key to apply the Center Across Selection format in Excel?

Yes, you can use a shortcut key to apply the Center Across Selection format in Excel. Simply select the cells you want to format, then press ‘Alt’ and ‘H’ keys to open the Home tab. Then press ‘E’ to open the Format Cells dialogue box and ‘A’ to go to the Alignment tab. Finally, press ‘Alt’ and ‘C’ keys to select the Center Across Selection option.

Auther name

Jacky Chou is an electrical engineer turned marketer. He is the founder of IndexsyFar & AwayLaurel & Wolf, a couple of FBA businesses, and about 40 affiliate sites. He is a proud native of Vancouver, BC, who has been featured on Entrepreneur.comForbesOberlo, and GoDaddy.