Generate 1-12-123-1234 Patterns in Google Sheets: A Powerful Array Formula

Is there a way to generate 1-12-123-1234 patterns using an array formula in Google Sheets? The answer is yes, and in this article, I will show you how to do it.

Why Generate 1-12-123-1234 Patterns?

Before diving into the solution, let’s understand why you might want to generate these patterns. By using an array formula, you can transform values in a single column into a database and utilize them in database functions. This opens up a whole range of possibilities for data manipulation and analysis.

Image source: Crawlan.com

How to Generate 1-12-123-1234 Patterns

While it’s easy to create 1-12-123-1234 patterns using a drag-down formula in Google Sheets, this method might not be useful when you need to use the generated values as an expression in an array formula. Here’s how you can accomplish this:

In column B, assume you have values in a few rows. It can be text, dates, or numbers. To generate the pattern, follow these steps:

1. In cell D2, insert the following TRANSPOSE-based formula: =transpose({$B$2:B2}).
2. Drag the formula down to fill the desired range.
3. The values in cell range B2:B11 will be transformed into the 1-12-123-1234 pattern in cell range D2:M11.

Array Formula to Generate 1-12-123-1234 Patterns

To generate the pattern using an array formula, you can use the following IF and SEQUENCE array formula in cell D2:

=ArrayFormula(if(sequence(10,10)/sequence(10,10)+sequence(1,10,row(A2)-1)<=row(A2:A11), transpose(B2:B11), ))

Note: You can also replace sequence(10,10)/sequence(10,10) with sequence(10,10)^0.

Let’s break down the formula into three parts:

Part 1: logical_expression

• Use sequence(10,10) to generate sequence numbers in 10 rows and columns.
• Divide the numbers by the same numbers to make them all equal to 1: sequence(10,10)/sequence(10,10).

Part 2: logical_expression

• Test whether the values in the output from Part 1 are less than or equal to the corresponding row numbers in each row: sequence(10,10)/sequence(10,10)+sequence(1,10,row(A2)-1)<=row(A2:A11).

Part 3: value_if_true

• If the logical_expression from Part 1 and Part 2 evaluates as true, the formula will return transpose(B2:B11).

Transposed 1-12-123-1234 Patterns

You can also get the transposed 1-12-123-1234 patterns by wrapping the above formula with TRANSPOSE. Use the following formula:

=ArrayFormula(TRANSPOSE(if(sequence(10,10)/sequence(10,10)+sequence(1,10,row(A2)-1)<=row(A2:A11),transpose(B2:B11),)))

This type of data can be useful for solving complex problems using database functions. If you want to explore this further, I’ve included a link to a tutorial at Crawlan.com at the beginning of this article.

That’s all for now! Enjoy experimenting with 1-12-123-1234 patterns in Google Sheets.

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