> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://concentra-analytics.gitbook.io/working-with-data/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://concentra-analytics.gitbook.io/working-with-data/strings/concatenate.md).

# Concatenate

Concatenation allows you to combine two or more strings (text fields or user-defined text) into a single value. This is useful for generating new fields, e.g. `Full Name` from `First Name` & `Last Name`, or creating combined values to act as a unique lookup key.

Some tools like Excel, OrgVue and Python have two types of concatenation: `a + b` style syntax and `concat(a,b)` style syntax. Both options are listed below.

NB. Using the `join()` method in OrgVue you can specify a delimiter to use between each string to be concatenated. In all other methods, if you want to have a delimiter between combined strings you need to add it separately as many times as needed.

## Excel

In Excel you have two options for combining strings: \
 Option 1: `&` is the quickest if you only have 2 values to combine \
 \=‹value1›&‹value2›

```
=A1&A2
```

Option 2: `CONCATENATE()` is better for long chains \
 \=\~CONCATENATE!\~(‹value1›, ‹value2›, ‹value›)

```
=CONCATENATE(A1," ",C1)
```

## Tableau

‹string1› + ‹string2›

```
[First Name] + [Last Name]
```

NB. Both arguments must be strings. To convert a different data type to a string, use \~STR!\~(‹field›). Go to [General > Convert Types](https://concentra-analytics.gitbooks.io/writing-calculations/content/general/convert_type.html) for more information.

## Alteryx

‹string1› + ‹string2›

```
[First Name] + [Last Name]
```

NB. Both arguments must be strings. To convert a different data type to a string, use \~TOSTRING!\~(‹field›) or the **Select** tool (in the **Preparation** palette). Go to [General > Convert Types](https://concentra-analytics.gitbooks.io/writing-calculations/content/general/convert_type.html) for more information.

## OrgVue

In OrgVue you have three options for combining strings: <br>

Option 1: `format()` is the simplest and most efficient \
&#x20;node.\~format!\~('{‹string1›}«delimiter»{‹string2›}')

```
node.format('{firstname} {lastname}')
```

NB. Fields in the dataset (`firstname` and `lastname` in this example) are referenced inside curly braces `{}`. If you want to join a value of the node with user-specified text, don't surround that string with the curly braces, e.g. `node.format('My name is {firstname}')`.

Option 2: `join()` is more flexible because it allows you to include conditional statements and references to a node's relatives \
&#x20;\[‹string1›,‹string2›].\~join!\~("«delimiter»")

```
[node.role, node.grade > 4 ? " (Senior Mgr)" : ""].join("")
```

Option 3: `concat()` is the most long-winded \
&#x20;‹string1›.value.\~concat!\~(«delimiter»).\~concat!\~(‹string2›)

```
node.firstname.value.concat(" ").concat(node.lastname)
```

## tSQL

In SQL you have two main options for combining strings: <br>

Option 1: `+` is the quickest if you only have a few values to combine \
&#x20;‹field1› +' '+ ‹field2› \
&#x20;‹field1› +' '+ ‹string1›

```
SELECT FirstName+' '+LastName AS FullName
FROM EmployeesData
-- OR
'OLD'+RecordID
```

Option 2: `CONCAT()` is better for long chains \
&#x20;\~CONCAT!\~(‹string1›, ‹string2›«, ‹stringN»)

```
SELECT CONCAT(Address, City, PostCode) AS Location 
FROM EmployeesData
```

NB.:

* CONCAT is only available with SQL2012 onwards
* When concatenating, both ‹fields› (or ‹field› and ‹string›) must be of the same data type.

## Python&#x20;

In Python you have two main options for combining strings: \
&#x20;Option 1: `+` is the quickest if you only have a few values to combine \
&#x20;‹string1› + ‹string2›

```
firstName + lastName
```

Option 2: `join()` \
&#x20;"".\~join!\~(‹string1›, ‹string2›)

```
"".join([firstName,  lastName])
# OR
"".join(["John", " Cleese"])
# Returns "John Cleese"
```

NB.:

* The above example assumes variables have been declared for `firstName` and `lastName`. For more information, go to [General > Variables](https://orgvue.gitbooks.io/formula-translator/content/general/variables.html).&#x20;
* To join the same string together multiple times, you can use the mathematical operator `*`, e.g. ‹string1›\*3 returns ‹string1string1string1›:

```
location = "Camelot"

location*3 
# Returns "CamelotCamelotCamelot"
```