Create Drawing Revision Codes
As a Blueprint Manager, I frequently need to combine 'Drawing Number' and 'Revision Letter' from separate columns into a single, standardized full reference code. This is crucial for accurate document tracking, version control, and clear communication with project teams and contractors.
=CONCATENATE(A2,"-",B2) How it works: The CONCATENATE function in Excel allows you to join two or more text strings into one string. In this scenario, `A2` refers to the 'Drawing Number', `B2` refers to the 'Revision Letter', and `"-"` is a text string (a hyphen) that acts as a separator between the two parts, making the combined code more readable and standardized. The formula effectively merges these three elements into a single, complete drawing revision code.
Data Setup
| Drawing Number | Revision Letter |
|---|---|
| PROJ-001 | A |
| PROJ-002 | B |
| PROJ-003 | C |
| PROJ-004 | D |
Step-by-Step Guide
Open your Excel sheet containing the drawing data.
Identify the column with 'Drawing Number' (e.g., Column A) and 'Revision Letter' (e.g., Column B).
Select the first empty cell in the column where you want the combined reference code to appear (e.g., C2).
Type the formula: `=CONCATENATE(A2,"-",B2)`
Press Enter to see the combined code for the first drawing.
Drag the fill handle (the small square at the bottom-right corner of cell C2) down to apply the formula to all other rows in your dataset.