Center across selection is for data. Merged cells are for presentation, as you said. Makes sense. Most complex Excel work is data-centric but people still use merged cells in those tabs. Even in your second example, if you were doing any sort of formula work or deeper analysis into that data, you'd need to keep those row labels intact, even though they are duplicates. If you were to think about it in database terms, the label+size _COMBINED_ is one unique identifier, and you need _BOTH ELEMENTS_ in every row to maintain data integrity.
I wouldn’t use it in a dataset at all; only for presentation. But I can’t say I’ve clever had a performance issue caused by conditional formatting. Volatile formulas, definitely; Conditional formatting, no.
The need for different column widths is a common scenario. It's good to keep a good reason to keep presentation separate from the data though... it's a nightmare trying to do anything with it otherwise!
Hi, 4:54 I dont agree. aIf we had to make it more clear, I would put the value in the first cell top, but left other cells empty, Merging here will only cause issues inthe future.
@@ExcelOffTheGrid Well, true, however now we also have Power BI thats presentation specific tool. for me this means that in Excel any presentation like features became obselete.
Both options are equally Good, what makes them good or bad is the situation in which one of them is most appropriate where as other one is inappropriate.. Need to use them with great wisdom
Great presentation and explanation: what it comes down to is that you are better off to have a worksheet with all the data where calculations are done an no merged cells and when it comes to presentation use power bi or slicers or whatever in another worksheet for the presentation
Exactly. Bad habits over laying out spreadsheets is definitely the cause. Merged cells as the symptom. If we always spilt Input, Data, Calculations, and Presentation, then we don’t get an issue.
Good points. Thanks! My understanding was that the merged cells feature was initially not well implemented, which caused it to get a bad reputation. It has long since been improved and can be the best and easiest option in certain cases.
Eh, no. It hasn't improved much. If you are doing any actual work with the data in Excel besides just generating a simple report, merged cells will quickly make that process very frustrating, especially since it pretty much ruins any quick keyboard shortcuts.
Absolutely correct. Great video
Excellent tutorial Mark. What is supposedly bad does not always end up being bad.
It’s all about the use case. For data or calculation it’s bad, for presentation it really doesn’t matter.
Thanks so much for the video. Very true....must pass the eye test.
Glad it was helpful!
Great, great, great reveal on minute 7:20 - they are on presentation. Wise!! thank you Mark!
Yes, that's the key take away. Maybe I should have lead with that 😁
Thanks for the thorough explanation! By the way, I like the guitar in your background. Is it a Telecaster? I like it.
Yes, it’s a Telecaster. Also have an SG, which is out of shot.
Center across selection is for data. Merged cells are for presentation, as you said. Makes sense. Most complex Excel work is data-centric but people still use merged cells in those tabs.
Even in your second example, if you were doing any sort of formula work or deeper analysis into that data, you'd need to keep those row labels intact, even though they are duplicates. If you were to think about it in database terms, the label+size _COMBINED_ is one unique identifier, and you need _BOTH ELEMENTS_ in every row to maintain data integrity.
Regarding the 2nd example. I agree 100%. If I were in that example, I would probably use some conditional formatting, so the values were retained.
@@ExcelOffTheGrid Even then, haha. Conditional formatting is volatile and therefore slow. If it's a bigger dataset it still might not be worth it.
I wouldn’t use it in a dataset at all; only for presentation.
But I can’t say I’ve clever had a performance issue caused by conditional formatting. Volatile formulas, definitely; Conditional formatting, no.
The need for different column widths is a common scenario. It's good to keep a good reason to keep presentation separate from the data though... it's a nightmare trying to do anything with it otherwise!
100% - presentation needs to be treated separately.
Hi,
4:54
I dont agree.
aIf we had to make it more clear, I would put the value in the first cell top, but left other cells empty, Merging here will only cause issues inthe future.
It’s a presentation format. There is no ‘future’. That’s the point of why it’s OK.
@@ExcelOffTheGrid Well, true, however now we also have Power BI thats presentation specific tool. for me this means that in Excel any presentation like features became obselete.
Both options are equally Good, what makes them good or bad is the situation in which one of them is most appropriate where as other one is inappropriate..
Need to use them with great wisdom
Well said 👍
Great presentation and explanation: what it comes down to is that you are better off to have a worksheet with all the data where calculations are done an no merged cells and when it comes to presentation use power bi or slicers or whatever in another worksheet for the presentation
Exactly. Bad habits over laying out spreadsheets is definitely the cause. Merged cells as the symptom.
If we always spilt Input, Data, Calculations, and Presentation, then we don’t get an issue.
Good points and excellent as always
Thanks Kebin 😀
Both exists and both has it's purpose. You just need to know when to use them. Nice video, thank you.
Very true!
Good points. Thanks! My understanding was that the merged cells feature was initially not well implemented, which caused it to get a bad reputation. It has long since been improved and can be the best and easiest option in certain cases.
I've not heard that before. Thanks for sharing. Maybe that's why people still have such an emotional reaction to it.
Eh, no. It hasn't improved much. If you are doing any actual work with the data in Excel besides just generating a simple report, merged cells will quickly make that process very frustrating, especially since it pretty much ruins any quick keyboard shortcuts.
@@Crazy_Diamond_75 I meant buggy. Just something I'd heard way before I really started using Excel.
how can I set it small report metric?
* ... SHOULD merge, not mergeD, right ?
Thank you - now fixed 👍
I dont like merged cells cause our colleagues completely dont use them properly, so they just make mess in documents with this instrument.
And that is a very real danger (it's too easy and too accessible).