Hi Mary,
This is the way to joint cells:
procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
var
ah, av, ao: SmallInt;
wrap: Wordbool;
begin
F1Book1.EntryRC[1,1]:='Hello Mary';
F1Book1.SetSelection(1,1,1,8);
F1Book1.GetAlignment(ah, wrap, av, ao);
F1Book1.SetAlignment(F1HAlignCenterAcrossCells, wrap, av, ao);
end;