Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I have 435 Excel files and I need all the data to be merged into one Excel file. Each file has a different row heading. Can they be combined?
Yes. Each file's data will be joined in sequence. You will be able to rearrange the Excel files in the application window. Each row heading will be carried over to the master file and to filter out repetitive row headings, the auto-filter can be used.
Q: How does Bulk File Merger handle files containing with many sheets?
Before running the merge, all sheets in a workbook will need to be combined using conventional macros programming (or, you can do this manually). When all the files to be merged contain one sheet, the complete merge with other files can begin. We are hoping to have a fix for this in the next software update.
Q: How are the combined files placed into the master merged file?
Each file's data is joined vertically going downward. So, for Excel files, data in each row is inserted below each other and this is done for all selected files. Files are combined according to the order within the source folder. The same applies to doc, csv, and text files.
Q: Do all spreadsheet files need to have the same row heading?
No, Bulk File Merger will take care of files with different row headings. In fact, you can have any number of columns or rows in each file. Blank spaces and special characters do not cause any issues with the merge.
Q: I have formulas in some of my cells, is that a problem?
Not at all. The cell's values are carried over in the merge but the formula statement will not be available.
Q: If I open a merged csv or txt file, it looks garbled, why?
Csv and txt files are flat files. To make some sense out of them, the files need to be opened in Excel. Excel will recognize these files as binary, flat files and the text import wizard in Excel will assist you in opening and viewing the file in the proper format.
Q: I'm a Writer and I have 38 chapters (38 doc files) in Microsoft Word. Can Bulk File Merger merge all the chapters into one book/file in the same order? What happens to the format?
Yes, the Word doc files can be merged in the order you choose. In most cases, the formatting will be intact during the merge; a section break is inserted between each file.
...I was faced with an absolute mountain of CSV files that needed to be combined and analyzed. After attempting to merge a few files manually and even programming an Excel macro to do some of the work, I did the math...14 hours of manual process. Bulk File Merger did the job in a few minutes!
-Richard Palarea, CEO, PA & Associates Transportation Spend Management
