Changing the case of text in Excel 2016 is a breeze once you know the right functions to use. Whether you need to convert text to uppercase, lowercase, or proper case, Excel has got you covered with simple formulas. In just a few clicks, you can transform the text in your spreadsheet to the desired case, making your data look cleaner and more professional.
Step by Step Tutorial: How to Change the Case in Excel 2016
Before we dive into the steps, let’s understand what we’re aiming to achieve. Excel 2016 provides three functions to change the case of text: UPPER, LOWER, and PROPER. Each function serves a different purpose – UPPER converts all letters to uppercase, LOWER to lowercase, and PROPER capitalizes the first letter of each word. We’ll be using these functions to modify the text case in our spreadsheet.
Step 1: Select the cell where you want the changed case text to appear
Click on the cell where you want to display the text with the modified case. This cell will be the output cell for the formula you will use.
Step 2: Type the formula for the case change
Enter the formula for the desired case change. For uppercase, use =UPPER(cell), for lowercase, use =LOWER(cell), and for proper case, use =PROPER(cell). Replace ‘cell’ with the cell reference that contains the text you want to change.
Step 3: Press Enter
After typing the formula, press Enter. The text in the referenced cell will now appear in the selected case in the output cell.
Once you’ve completed these steps, you’ll see the text case has changed in the output cell. The original text will remain unchanged in the source cell, allowing you to keep or discard it as needed.
Tips: Changing the Case in Excel 2016
- If you want to change the case for multiple cells, you can drag the fill handle (the small square at the bottom-right corner of the output cell) to copy the formula to other cells.
- Remember that the PROPER function will only capitalize the first letter of each word, so it won’t correct grammatical errors in capitalization.
- To change the case of text permanently, you can use the “Paste Special” feature to paste the values only, removing the formula.
- If you need to change the case of text that includes numbers or special characters, don’t worry! These characters won’t be affected by the case change functions.
- Use the “Find & Select” tool to quickly locate and select all cells with formulas, making it easier to apply the “Paste Special” feature if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions: Changing the Case in Excel 2016
What if I want to change the case of multiple columns at once?
You can apply the same formula to multiple cells across different columns by selecting the range of cells you want to change and typing the formula in the first cell. Press Ctrl+Enter to apply the formula to all selected cells.
Can I use these functions to change the case of text in Excel for Mac?
Yes, the UPPER, LOWER, and PROPER functions work the same way in Excel for Mac as they do in Excel 2016 for Windows.
Is there a way to toggle between different text cases without retyping the formula?
While Excel doesn’t have a built-in toggle case feature, you can create a macro to switch between cases or use the “Find & Replace” feature to switch between upper and lower case manually.
How do I change the case of text that’s part of a formula?
To change the case of text generated by a formula, you can nest the case change function within the original formula. For example, =UPPER(YOUR_FORMULA_HERE).
Can these functions be used in Excel Online?
Yes, the UPPER, LOWER, and PROPER functions are available in Excel Online and work the same way as in the desktop version of Excel 2016.
Summary: Steps to Change the Case in Excel 2016
- Select the output cell.
- Enter the case change formula.
- Press Enter.
Conclusion
Changing the case of text in Excel 2016 is a task that can significantly enhance the appearance and readability of your data. By using the UPPER, LOWER, and PROPER functions, you can quickly and easily standardize the text case across your spreadsheet. It’s a simple yet powerful way to make your data look more polished and professional.
As you become more familiar with these functions, you’ll find that they can be combined with other Excel features to create even more efficient workflows. For example, you can use conditional formatting to automatically change the case of text based on specific criteria, or you can incorporate case change functions into larger formulas to dynamically update text as your data changes.
Remember, the key to mastering Excel is practice and exploration. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different functions and features to see what works best for your needs. And if you ever get stuck, there’s a vast community of Excel users and experts out there who are more than willing to lend a helping hand.
So go ahead, give it a try and change the case in Excel 2016 with confidence. Happy spreadsheeting!
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.