How To Add Prefix In Excel?

To add a prefix to text or numbers in Excel, you can use several methods depending on your needs:

Using the CONCATENATE Function (or & operator)

1. Suppose you want to add a prefix to the values in column A.
2. In an empty cell (e.g., B1), type the following formula:

   ="Prefix_" & A1
   

   Replace "Prefix_" with the prefix you want to add. The & operator joins the text in the prefix with the value in cell A1.

3. Drag the fill handle (small square at the bottom-right corner of the cell) down to apply this formula to other cells.

Using the TEXT Function (for Numbers)

If you are adding a prefix to numbers, and you want the result in a specific format (e.g., prefix + 3 digits), you can use the TEXT function:

1. Suppose you have numbers in column A, and you want to add a prefix like “ID_”.
2. In an empty cell (e.g., B1), enter the following formula:

   ="ID_" & TEXT(A1, "000")
   

   This will add “ID_” as the prefix and format the number in cell A1 to have 3 digits (e.g., if A1 is 5, the result will be “ID_005”).

3. Drag the fill handle down to apply this formula to other cells.

 Using Find and Replace (for Text-Only)

1. Select the range of cells where you want to add a prefix.
2. Press Ctrl + H to open the Find and Replace dialog.
3. In the “Find what” field, leave it empty (for replacing nothing).
4. In the “Replace with” field, type the prefix you want to add (e.g., “Prefix_”).
5. Click Replace All. This will add the prefix to each of the selected cells.

Using Text Format Cells (for static prefixes)

If you want a fixed prefix to appear with the number but not change the original data (only for display):

1. Select the range of cells.
2. Right-click and choose Format Cells.
3. Under the Number tab, select Custom.
4. In the Type box, type the following format:

   "Prefix_"0
   

   Replace "Prefix_" with the desired prefix.

5. Click OK. Now the prefix will appear before the numbers without modifying the original value.