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Merge Lines Side by Side
Paste two to four lists and join them row by row: line 1 with line 1, line 2 with line 2, and so on. Pick a separator (comma, tab, pipe or your own), decide what happens when the lists have different lengths, or interleave the lines instead.
Last updated:
Layout
Type \t for a tab.
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Merge Lines Side by Side
- Paste each list into its own box, one item per line.
- Choose a separator, such as comma + space or Tab for spreadsheets.
- Pick how uneven lists are handled and the layout (side by side or alternating).
- Check the row preview to confirm the lines line up.
- Click Copy results to copy the merged text.
Example: the same lists, different options
List 1: A, B, C (three lines). List 2: 1, 2 (two lines). Separator: comma.
| Uneven-list option | Result |
|---|---|
| Pad with empty cells | A,1 |
| Skip missing cells | A,1 |
| Fill with “N/A” | A,1 |
| Repeat last item | A,1 |
| Start the shorter list again | A,1 |
| Stop at the shortest list | A,1 |
| Interleave layout (pad) | A |
Common uses
- Contact lists: join a column of names with a column of emails or phone numbers.
- Find and replace pairs: merge old values and new values with a tab, ready for a bulk replace tool.
- Vocabulary lists: put words and translations side by side for flashcards.
- Data preparation: build CSV rows from separate columns copied out of reports or PDFs.
- Code: pair keys with values to write
key: valueorkey=valuelines.
Frequently asked questions
How do I combine two lists into one line per row?
Paste the first list in List 1 and the second in List 2, then choose a separator. Line 1 of each list becomes row 1 of the result, line 2 becomes row 2, and so on. This is the same as the paste command on Linux and macOS, or zipping lists in programming.
What happens if the lists have different lengths?
By default the shorter list is padded with empty cells so no data is lost. You can instead skip the missing cells, fill them with placeholder text such as N/A, repeat the list's last item, restart the shorter list from the top, or stop at the end of the shortest list.
How do I get the result into Excel or Google Sheets as columns?
Choose Tab as the separator, copy the result and paste it into a cell. Spreadsheets split tab-separated text into columns automatically. For a .csv file, choose Comma (CSV) and tick the quoting option.
What does interleave (alternate lines) do?
Instead of putting items on the same row, it stacks them: line 1 of List 1, line 1 of List 2, line 2 of List 1, line 2 of List 2, and so on. It is handy for question-and-answer sheets, dialogue, or translations with the original above each line.
Why should I keep empty lines?
Blank lines often mark a missing value, so removing them would shift every following line and pair items wrongly. Only tick “Ignore empty lines” when blank lines are just stray gaps.
Can I use a tab or a multi-character separator?
Yes. Choose Custom and type any text, for example “ → ” or “ = ”. Type \t to insert a tab.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.
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