In both files we specify the so-called index columns (they determine the unique position in the worksheet) and the so-called links (a link shows which index column from the first worksheet corresponds to the index column from the second worksheet).
Each file can contain one or more index columns. The resulting file is generated according to the following algorithm - the program takes rows from main_data.xls one by one and searches for the corresponding rows in additional_data.xls (the search criterion is that all pairs of index columns must have the same values).
The result is shown on fig.2.

Important:We recommend that you should back up source files before converting them or save them under a different name (for example, you can save the source file named 'itemslist' with the name 'work_itemslist')


Some practical examples of using XL Fusion:
(in both examples the source files are already saved in the necessary format)

The source files are located in the [XL Fusion_Folder]folder
([XL Fusion_Folder] is the folder where XL Fusion is installed, by default it is "c:/Program Files/XL Fusion")

1. Merging two files in one.

Source files:
Baselist.xls (fig.3) contains a price list for portable printers with their main characteristics
Enhancement.xls (fig.4) contains information about the enhancements of different printer models

Fig.3

Fig.4

Task:
Add a column named Enhancements to Mainlist.xls and fill it up with data from Enhancements.xls

Solution:

1. Start XL Fusion
2. Click the Select Files button
3. Click the Open button in the Maine Table panel and select Mainlist.xls - now you can see its contents in the upper worksheet
4. Click the Sheet button in the MainTable panel. Click any cell on the necessary worksheet. Now you can see worksheet name next to the Sheet button.
5. Click the Data Begin Row button in the Main Table panel, a question mark appears next to the button. Click any cell in the second row of the upper worksheet. Now you can see '2' next to the Data Begin Row button.
6. You do not have to specify the Title Row, but if your source files contain headers and you want to see them in the resulting file, you should specify them. Click the Title Row button in the Main Table panel and specify the first row.
7. Click the Open button in the Add Table panel and select Enhancement.xls - its contents is now shown in the lower worksheet.
8. Click the Sheet button in the AddTable panel. Click any cell on the necessary worksheet. Now you can see worksheet name next to the Sheet button. 9. Click the Title Row button in the Add Table panel and specify the first row.
10. Now an important step - specifying links. You should specify the columns whose values determine the connection between your worksheets. In our example, the column is 'PartNumber' in both Mainlist.xls and Enhancement.xls. Click the '+' button in the Links panel. You will see '? -> ?' next to it. Click any cell in the A column of the upper worksheet; Click any cell in the B column of the lower worksheet. You can now see 'A -> B' in the Links list.
11. All the necessary data is specified now and the parameter window looks like this (fig.5). Click the Continue button.

Fig.5

11. Click the Start button and specify the folder where the result will be saved.
12. The merged file is shown on fig.6. You just have to remove unneeded columns and the work will be completed.

Fig.6

2. Comparing two worksheets with price lists.

Source files:
FirstPrice.xls (fig.7) contains a price list for portable printers from the first supplier

Fig.7

SecondPrice.xls (fig.8) contains a price list for portable printers from the second supplier

Fig.8

Task:

Compare two price lists by getting a worksheet containing Part Number, first supplier's prices and second supplier's prices

Solution:

1. Start XL Fusion
2. Click the Select Files button
3. Click the Open button in the Main Table panel and select FirstPrice.xls - now you can see its contents in the upper worksheet
4. Click the Sheet button in the MainTable panel. Click any cell on the necessary worksheet. Now you can see worksheet name next to the Sheet button. 5. Click the Data Begin Row button in the Main Table panel, a question mark appears next to the button. Click any cell in the second row of the upper worksheet. Now you can see '2' next to the First Data Row button.
6. You do not have to specify the Title Row, but if your source files contain headers and you want to see them in the resulting file, you should specify them. Click the Title Row button in the Main Table panel and specify the first row.
7. Click the Open button in the Add Table panel and select SecondPrice.xls - its contents is now shown in the lower worksheet.
8. Click the Sheet button in the Add Table panel. Click any cell on the necessary worksheet. Now you can see worksheet name next to the Sheet button. 9. Click the Title Row button in the Add Table panel and specify the first row.
10. Now an important step - specifying links. You should specify the columns whose values determine the connection between your worksheets. In our example, the column is 'PartNumber' in both FirstPrice.xls and SecondPrice.xls. Click the '+' button in the Links panel. You will see '? -> ?' next to it. Click any cell in the A column of the upper worksheet; Click any cell in the B column of the lower worksheet. You can now see

'A -> B'

in the Links list.

 All the necessary data is specified now and the parameter window looks like this (fig.9). Click the Continue button.

Fig.9

11. Click the Start button and specify the folder where the result will be saved.
12. The merged file is shown on fig.10. You just have to remove unneeded columns and the work will be completed.

Fig.10