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# Combine two columns into one or split a column in two

> Merge columns and fixed text into one column with Combine Columns & Text, or split a text column into up to 50 columns by a delimiter in Mammoth.
>
> Applies to: Where: View › Describe your transformation › Column Management › Combine Columns & Text or Split Into Multiple Columns

**Combine Columns & Text** merges columns and fixed text into one column, and **Split Into Multiple Columns** breaks a text column into several at a delimiter. Both are in **Column Management** in **Describe your transformation**, and both are pipeline tasks that re-run on every refresh.

## Combine two or more columns into one

**Combine Columns & Text** merges values from several columns, and any fixed text, into one column. Mix columns and text in any order. A text column's 3-dot menu has the same thing as **Combine with another column**.

![Combine Columns & Text panel combining store_name, a separator and location into a new column named Store_label](https://mammoth.io/docs/images/20260511_175545_combine_column1.webp)

1. Click in **Define values or columns to combine** and start typing.
2. To add a column, pick it from the suggestions (they show type icons). It becomes a column chip.
3. To add fixed text, such as a separator " - " or a prefix "ID:", type it and choose **Add... " - "** from the list. It becomes a text chip.
4. Optional: click **Add Condition** to combine only for some rows. Describe the condition and click **Generate**, or build it with the **Where** column and operator dropdowns. Click **Apply Condition**.
5. In **Place in**, choose **New Column** and type a name, or **Existing Column**.
6. Click **Apply**.

Click the X on a chip to remove it, or **Clear** to remove everything.

For example, to make "Chic Boutique - Miami" from `store_name` and `location`, add the `store_name` chip, type " - " and add it as text, then add the `location` chip. Name the output `store_label`.

## Split one column into several by a delimiter

**Split Into Multiple Columns** divides a text column into several new text columns at a delimiter. The source column stays as it is. A text column's 3-dot menu has it as **Split this column**.

![Split Into Multiple Columns panel open, showing Source column dropdown](https://mammoth.io/docs/images/20260417_124853_SplitIntoMultipleColumnspanelopenshowingSourcecolumndropdown1.webp)

| Option | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Source column** | The text column to split. Only Text columns are listed. |
| **Delimiter** | The character or characters to split on, such as a comma, space, hyphen or pipe. The info icon shows an example: "UK, USA, France" split on a comma gives 3 columns. |
| **No. of Columns** | How many new columns to create, from 2 to 50. A number outside that range is set to the nearest limit. |
| **Result columns** | One name box per new column. Names start as "New column 1", "New column 2" and so on, skipping names in use. Each must be unique ("A column with same name already exists. Try another value"). |

When a value has a different number of parts than you have columns:

- More parts than columns: the last column gets all the remaining parts, joined with the delimiter.
- Fewer parts than columns: the extra columns are blank for that row.

For example, a `name` column holds "Lightweight Box Model-3887-B". Set **Delimiter** to `-` and **No. of Columns** to 2, and name the columns `product` and `model`. `product` gets "Lightweight Box Model" and `model` gets "3887-B", because the last column keeps the remaining parts.

## Limits and troubleshooting for combine and split

| Limit | Value |
| --- | --- |
| New columns from one Split Into Multiple Columns task | 2 to 50 |

| Message or symptom | Cause | Fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The last split column holds several parts | The value has more parts than columns | Raise **No. of Columns** |
| Split columns are blank for some rows | Those values have fewer parts | Expected: extra columns stay blank |
| A column isn't offered in Split | It isn't a Text column | Convert it to Text first |

## Related

- [Add, split, copy and delete columns](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/clean-and-shape/manage-columns/): add, copy and remove columns.
- [Work with text and JSON](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/clean-and-shape/text-and-json/): extract part of a text value instead of splitting it.
- [Calculate with formulas](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/clean-and-shape/formulas/): fill a new column with a calculation.

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Source: https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/clean-and-shape/combine-and-split-columns.md · Updated: 2026-11-08