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CONCAT in SoftMaker PlanMaker: Join Text from Cell Ranges and Values

Text Beginner SoftMaker PlanMaker 2026

Learn the PlanMaker CONCAT function with range-based joining, worked order-number examples, version checks and troubleshooting.

Verification status: Official documentation referenced; example outcomes independently reasoned or arithmetically checked where stated. Not executed in SoftMaker PlanMaker 2026. How formula examples are checked

CONCAT in SoftMaker PlanMaker: combine a range of cells

Quick answer: Use CONCAT to join multiple text fragments into one value. Unlike CONCATENATE, PlanMaker’s CONCAT can accept a cell range as one input, making it convenient for product codes, addresses and identifiers built from adjacent cells. It does not insert separators for you. SoftMaker PlanMaker 2026.

When to use CONCAT rather than CONCATENATE

You receive separate identifier components in neighboring columns and want one readable value while leaving the underlying data unchanged. CONCAT(A2:D2) expresses an adjacent list in one range; the analogous older-style CONCATENATE(A2,B2,C2,D2) needs each reference spelled out. The official manual shows this same range-versus-individual-cells distinction. For automatic delimiters, use TEXTJOIN instead.

Official syntax and each argument

=CONCAT(String1 [, String2, String3 ...])
Argument Description Required?
String1 Text, number, cell reference or cell range providing material to join. Yes
String2 Additional value, text or range. The square-bracket notation lists it as optional.
String3, etc. Further values or ranges, appended in supplied order. Optional

The reference is the official PlanMaker 2026 CONCAT page, which illustrates both scalar arguments and A2:E2 as a range. Do not type the square brackets; they mark optional parts of the reference syntax. English-manual examples use commas. The accepted separator in the installed application may depend on locale: when a formula is rejected, check the formula editor rather than assuming comma and semicolon interchangeability. No localized installation was tested.

Worked example: four cells become one order code

Set up a worksheet, enter the sequence as text, and leave F2 for the result:

Cell Enter as Value
A2 text INV-
B2 text 2026
C2 text -
D2 text 0042

  1. Select F2.

  2. Enter:

    =CONCAT(A2:D2)

  3. Expected result in F2: INV-2026-0042. The function follows A2, B2, C2 and D2 from left to right. No separator is added beyond the supplied hyphens.

  4. To double-check, try =CONCATENATE(A2,B2,C2,D2) in another empty cell. Expected output: the same identifier. Do not replace the function name with CONCATENATE while leaving A2:D2 as the only argument; the two functions have different documented range handling.

Why the text type matters: the stored text 0042 includes four characters. If you type numeric 42 and expect four digits, that assumption can break; preserve leading-zero identifiers as text before concatenation.

Advanced use: controlled separators and repeated rows

Suppose A5 is North, B5 is Hub, and C5 is the text 11. The range A5:B5 by itself supplies adjacent fragments without a space. Use explicitly supplied delimiters:

=CONCAT(A5," ",B5," / ",C5)

Expected output: North Hub / 11. The blanks around the slash are part of the quoted separator argument. For records in later rows, copy the formula down; relative references update. This produces text without sorting or modifying the original cells.

PlanMaker also documents =CONCAT(2," slices"," of ","bread") with the expected result 2 slices of bread. Numeric values can be supplied to a text-joining expression; check how numbers and dates are displayed after import or export. Official example.

Troubleshooting and limitations

Problem Likely cause Suggested check
Joined text lacks commas, spaces or hyphens CONCAT does not automatically create separators. Insert literal separator arguments or use TEXTJOIN.
An identifier loses leading zeros Source value is a number rather than fixed-width text. Preserve source codes as text.
Data changes do not affect the result The formula uses quoted literals rather than cell references. Use A2 instead of "A2" where you want a reference.
Formula entry fails Quotes, parentheses or locale argument separator do not match. Retype straight quotes and confirm the separator in the installed formula editor.
A range produces an unexpected sequence Too many source columns were selected or the records contain stray spaces. Check the exact range and its cells in reading order.

CONCAT does not provide TEXTJOIN’s ignore-empty switch. Do not assume Excel’s behavior of every text or array function is identical in every PlanMaker edition: inspect the actual migrated workbook.

Version, platform and cross-software compatibility

The PlanMaker 2021, 2024 and 2026 official manuals all document the same displayed signature, plus the ability to pass cell ranges. This confirms reference documentation in those three releases, not first introduction, every edition’s licensing or parity on every desktop platform. The examined manual family covers desktop Windows, macOS and Linux; no app-specific installation was run here.

SoftMaker’s manual states that Microsoft Excel supports CONCAT starting with Excel 2019; older Excel releases do not recognize the function. This is specifically about Excel, not about the year it was first added to PlanMaker. For an older Excel target, CONCATENATE with separate cell arguments or & may be more compatible. For automatically placed separators use TEXTJOIN where supported. Google Sheets and LibreOffice Calc also offer text-joining features, but formula availability, argument delimiters and imported data types should be checked rather than assumed equivalent.

Official reference and verification

Verification status: Official documentation checked; example outcomes were independently reasoned or arithmetically checked where applicable. Not executed in SoftMaker PlanMaker.

  • No genuine SoftMaker PlanMaker screenshots are included; this guide does not use mock application images.