The Combine Files window

As soon as you choose Combine & Load To..., the Combine Files window appears. Here Excel learns the shape of the data from one sample file, then applies the same pattern to the other 11 files. Your job is just three things: pick the right sheet, check the columns, then click OK.

12345 Zoom

Click a number on the picture or in this list to highlight that area.

1. 1Sample File: First file The sample file Excel learns from: the first file (January). Leave it as it is.
2. 2Parameter1 → Data What is inside the sample file. Each expense file has just one sheet, named Data. Click it to select it.
3. 37-column preview Tanggal to Catatan, holding January rows. Dates still show as numbers like 45658; that is normal.
4. 4Skip files with errors Leave it unticked so a problem file isn’t silently left out.
5. 5OK Applies the sample file’s pattern to all 12 files.

Step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: Leave Sample File at First file (number 1), then in the left panel click the Data sheet under Parameter1 (number 2) until it is highlighted.

   Watch out: This is why sheet names must match: Excel learns from one sample file. If one file’s sheet is named data (lowercase) while the others use Data, that file will error or come back empty.

2. 2

   Step 2: Make sure the preview on the right (number 3) shows 7 columns: Tanggal, ID Departemen, ID Kategori, Vendor, Deskripsi, Jumlah, Catatan.

   Tip: The Tanggal column is still a number like 45658. Don’t worry, that is how Excel stores dates: 45658 = 1 January 2025. Vendor names are messy too, e.g. PLN actually starts with two spaces (they don’t show in this preview). Both get tidied up in Module 3.

   Watch out: Column headers are also taken from the sample file. If another file uses a different header, that column comes in empty (null) for that file. The practice files have one case like this, in the November file. Leave it for now: the totals are not affected, and you will fix it in Module 8.

3. 3

   Step 3: Leave Skip files with errors (number 4) unticked, then click OK (number 5).

   Tip: If it is ticked, files with errors are simply skipped, and you could lose a whole month without noticing. It is better to see the error.