XL2000: The Difference Between Excel "Merge Workbooks" and Lotus 1-2-3 "/File Combine"

The Merge Workbooks command in Microsoft Excel 2000 does not provide the same functionality as the /File Combine command in Lotus 1-2-3.

The differences between the Merge Workbooks command in Microsoft Excel 2000 and the /File Combine command in Lotus 1-2-3 are as follows.

Excel "Merge Workbooks"

The Merge Workbooks command on the Tools menu is used with the Shared Workbooks feature in Microsoft Excel 2000. A workbook can be shared between multiple users. As each user saves a copy of the file, you will be left with multiple copies of the same shared workbook. This feature allows you to merge the copies of the shared workbook into one master file. The copy of the shared workbook that will be used as the master file must be active when you use this feature.

Lotus 1-2-3 "/File Combine"

The /File Combine command in Lotus 1-2-3 is used to insert data from a file on a disk to the active cell in your current worksheet. When the data is taken from the file, you can choose to add, subtract, or copy the new data with the data in the current worksheet. You also have the choice to combine the entire file or a named/specified range of the file with the current worksheet.

For additional information about emulating the Lotus 1-2-3 /File Combine command, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about shared workbooks, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu, type shared workbooks in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.