Excel Columns to Rows (Table of Contents)
Columns to Rows in Excel
- Sometimes you need to rotate or convert the columns to rows or flip-flop it for better data analysis and presentation of data in an Excel worksheet.
- It can be done by either copy & paste. i.e. Use of Paste Special Transpose option to convert columns to rows or rows to columns in excel, the second option is by using the Transpose function.
- Both the method is simple, easy and flexible to use, this procedure is also referred to as a change in the orientation of a range of cells.
Paste Special Option.
The shortcut key for paste special:
Once you copied the range of cell which needs to be transposed, then click on Alt + E + S in a cell where you want to paste special a dialog box popup window appears with transpose option.
How to Convert Columns to Rows in Excel using Transpose?
To convert data from column to row in excel is very simple and easy. Let’s understand the working of converting columns to rows by using some examples.
Convert Columns to Rows in Excel – Example #1
In the below mentioned Pharma sales table, it contains medicine product code in column C (C10 to C16), quantity sold in column D (D10 to D16) & Total sales value in column E (E10 to E16).
Here I need to convert its orientation from columns to rows with the help of paste special option in excel.
- Select the whole table range, i.e. all the cells with the dataset in a spreadsheet.
- Copy the selected cells by pressing Ctrl + C.
- Select the cell where you want to paste this data set, i.e. G10.
- When you enable right click on the mouse, the paste option appears, in that you have to select 4th option i.e. Transpose (Below mentioned screenshot)
- On selecting transpose option, your dataset gets copied in that cell range starting from the cell G10 to M112.
- Apart from the above procedure, you can also use a shortcut key to convert columns to rows in excel.
- Copy the selected cells by pressing Ctrl + C.
- Select the cell where you need to copy this data set, i.e. G10.
- Click on Alt + E + S, paste special dialog box popup window appears, in that select or click on the box of Transpose option, it will result or convert column data to rows data in excel.
Data which is copied is called as source data and when this source data is copied to other range i.e. pasted data, which is referred to as transposed data.
Note: In the other direction where you are going the copy raw or source data, you have to make sure to select the same number of cells as the original set of cells, so that there is no overlapping with the original dataset. In the above-mentioned example, there are 7-row cells here that are arranged vertically, so when I copy this dataset to the horizontal direction, it should contain 7 column cells towards other direction, so that the overlapping does not occur with the original dataset.
Convert Columns to Rows in Excel – Example #2
Sometimes, when you have a huge number of columns, column data at the end will be not visible and it will not fit to screen. In this scenario, you can change its orientation from current horizontal range to vertical range with the help of paste special option in excel.
- In the below-mentioned example, Table contains months and its serial number (From column C to W).
- Select the whole table range, i.e. all the cells with the dataset in a spreadsheet.
- Copy the selected cells by pressing Ctrl + C.
- Select the cell where you need to copy this data set, i.e. C24.
- When you enable right click on the mouse, the paste options appear, in that you have to select 4th option i.e. Transpose (Below mentioned screenshot)
- On selecting transpose option, your dataset gets copied in that cell range starting from the cell C24.
In the transposed data, all the data values are visible and clear as compared to source data.
Disadvantages of using Paste special option:
- Sometimes copy-paste option creates duplicates.
- If you have used the Paste special option in excel to convert columns to rows, the transposed cells (or arrays) are not linked to each other with source data and it will not get updated when trying to change data values in source data.
Convert Columns to Rows in Excel – Example #3
Transpose function: It converts columns to rows and rows to columns in excel.
The syntax or formula for Transpose function is:
- Array: It is a range of cells which you need to convert or change its orientation.
In the below example, Pharma sales table contains medicine product code in column P (P7 to P12), sales data in column Q (Q7 to Q12).
Check out the number of rows & columns in source data which you want to transpose.
i.e. Initially, count the number of rows and columns in your original source data (7 rows & 2 columns) which is vertically positioned, and now select the same number of blank cells, but in the other direction (Horizontal) i.e. (2 rows & 7 columns)
- Prior to entering the formula, select the empty cells, i.e. from P15 to V16.
- With the empty cells selected, Type transpose formula in the cell P15. i.e. = TRANSPOSE (P6:Q12).
- Since formula needs to be applied for the whole range, press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to make it an array formula.
Now you can check the dataset, here columns are converted to rows with datasets.
Advantages of the TRANSPOSE function:
- The main benefit or advantage of using the TRANSPOSE function is that transposed data or the rotated table retains the connection with the source table data and whenever you change the source data, the transposed data also changes accordingly.
Things to Remember about Convert Columns to Rows in Excel
- Paste special option can also be used for other tasks i.e. Add, Subtract, Multiply, and Divide between datasets.
- #VALUE error occurs while selecting the cells, i.e. If the number of column and rows selected in transposed data are not equal to the rows and columns of the source data.
Recommended Articles
This has been a guide to Columns to Rows in Excel. Here we discuss how to convert columns to rows in excel using transpose along with practical examples and downloadable excel template. Transpose can help everyone to quickly convert multiple Columns to Rows in excel easily. You can also go through our other suggested articles –
