- To insert a line break between text we need to use CHAR function. And in today’s post, I’m going to show you exactly 3 different formulas which you can use to have a line break while combining values from different cells. And the best part is all these 3 formulas are simple to use.
- Windows: Alt+Enter; Mac: Ctrl+Option+Enter; Just use the shortcut whenever you want to insert a line break (and save the Enter key for navigating to the next cell). This might take some getting used to, but can come in handy depending on what you're working on. Take the example below. We've used line breaks to make sure each address appears on.
- Line break in excel means inserting a new line in any cell value, simply pressing enter will take us to the next cell, to insert a line break we can use the keyboard shortcut which is ALT + Enter to insert a new line inside a cell, as we insert a line break the height of the cell also increases as it represents the data in the cell.
After this, use the keyboard shortcut ALT + ENTER., this will add a line break in the right of the cursor. Here, we have a simple keyboard shortcut to add line breaks in any cell in Excel. Press Alt + Enter ( Ctrl + Option + Enter for Mac).
Sometimes it’s necessary to have more than one line inside a worksheet cell, which is easily done with a line break.
New Line in Excel Cell (MAC)
Add a new line in Excel cell on Mac computers by holding down the Alt key while you press enter. It’s the keyboard shortcut Alt+Enter. In Excel 2008 and 2011 for Mac use Cmd+Option+Enter.
Fig. 1 – Use a Line Break in a Cell with Alt+Enter
A Potential Problem with Using Ctrl+Enter in Excel
The line break is the character code 10. While invisible to the eye in Excel, this character may create problems when exported into a database system by prematurely starting a new record every time it’s encountered.
Using Extra Spaces to Create a Line Break (Not Recommended)
I’ve seen Excel users who don’t know about this shortcut so they try and make the lines wrap inside the cell by providing extra spaces between words. Adding spaces may provide a worksheet cell that looks nice and correct, but an export will also include those extra spaces. (See the formula bar below)
Fig. 2 – Use Spaces to Wrap a Line in a Cell
Another problem with adding extra spaces is that, when the column width changes it can provide an unpredictable alignment. By looking in the formula bar you can see if there’s a proper line break (fig 1) OR extra spaces that might be problematic. (fig 2)
Expanding the Formula Bar in Excel 2007 and 2010
The formula bar typically doesn’t show more than one line. In the two figures above the formula bar has been expanded. You can do this with the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+U, which you’ll probably never remember, or you can select the drop-down arrow at the right side of the formula bar.
Formula Bar for 2003 and 2008
This keyboard shortcut doesn’t work in Excel 2008 or Excel 2008 for Mac, and there’s no drop-down arrow at the right side of the formula bar. When you encounter a cell with more than one line Excel automatically expands the formula bar. No manual intervention required.
This is why some users are stumped after upgrading to 2007 or 2010 and finding they can’t see the entire cell contents in the formula bar. I know I was. 🙂
Though excel is a spreadsheet software, however we often enter text in it. But what if the text is too long? How you going to make a link break or enter a new line within a cell? Today, in this tutorial, I am going to tell you how you can start a new line in excel cell.
How To Enter A Line Break In Excel For Macs
There are two ways to start new line within a cell in excel –
How To Enter A Line Break In Excel For Mac Pro
- A shortcut to enter line break in the same cell.
- A formula which automatically enters a line break and create a new line within the same cell.
Method 1 – Keyboard shortcut to start a new line in excel cell
Following keyboard shortcut is used to start a new line in the same cell –
Windows OS – ALT+Enter
MAC OS – Control+Option+Enter
Easy steps to do line break in excel cell –
- Double click the cell where you want to insert a line break.
- Move your cursor to the place where you want to insert a line break.
- Now hold the ALT and Enter key together and create multiple lines within a single cell in excel.
Method 2 – Add line break in same excel cell using Formula
Suppose we have a data set as shown below –
Now, combine text in A1, B1 and C1 Cell with Concatenate function.
Texts are combined in cell D1.
In order to enter the line break, we have to use CHAR(10)along with the CONCATENATE function.
Use the below given formula to add multiple lines in excel cell
A1&CHAR(10)&B1&CHAR(10)&C1
This formula will create a line break that you can see in the below picture. However, make sure that your ‘wrap text’ is active while you are applying this formula otherwise the formula won’t work in the other case.
Note: If you are a Mac user, use CHAR(13).
