Have you ever wondered how to reverse the values in a column in Google Sheets? Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s as simple as using regular sort or transpose functions! Flipping a column involves more than just rearranging values. Let’s dive into the concept of flipping and explore different approaches to achieve this magical reversal.
The Concept of Flipping
When we talk about flipping a column in Google Sheets, we’re not referring to normal sorting in ascending or descending order. Flipping involves reversing the order of values in a column while maintaining the original values themselves. It’s like turning your column upside-down, with the last value now at the top.
To better understand flipping, take a look at this image:
Now that you have a grasp of what flipping entails, let’s explore different methods to achieve this in Google Sheets.
The Helper Column Approach
One popular method to flip a column is by using a helper column with sequential numbers. Let’s walk through this approach step by step.
Flipping a Finite Column Range
Suppose we have values in column A, and we want to flip them into column C with the help of sequential numbers in column B. Here’s how you can do it:
- Use the SORT function to reverse the order of values in column A, based on the helper column B. The formula should look like this:
=SORT(A2:A6, B2:B6, 0).
By utilizing an external column (in this case, the helper column B) as a sorting reference, we can achieve the desired flipping effect.
Flipping an Infinite Column Range
If you’re working with an infinite (opened) range in column A, the formula would need a slight adjustment. Here’s how:
- Use the SORT function again, but this time adjust the data range to include infinite rows. The formula should look like this:
=SORT(A2:A, B2:B, 0).
Now, here’s a crucial step: remove the values in the range B2:B. This means eliminating the sequential numbers in the helper column. To do this, you can use either of the following formulas in cell B2:
=ArrayFormula(IF(LEN(A2:A), ROW(A2:A),))
=ArrayFormula(ROW(A2:A) * N(A2:A<>""))
These formulas will populate column B with row numbers corresponding to non-blank cells in column A. With that, you’ve successfully applied the helper column approach to flip your column.
The Non-Helper Column Approach
For those who prefer a cleaner solution without relying on a helper column, I’ve got you covered. The formula for flipping a column, whether finite or infinite, remains consistent:
=SORT(A2:A, ROW(A2:A)*N(A2:A<>""), 0)
In this formula, we’ve replaced the helper column range with the ROW(A2:A)*N(A2:A<>””) formula within the SORT function. The ARRAYFORMULA function is not required here, so we’ve removed it.
And voila! You’ve flipped your column in Google Sheets without the need for a helper column.
Flipping Multiple Column Ranges
What if you want to flip multiple column ranges in Google Sheets? No worries! The formula almost remains the same. You just need to incorporate the additional columns in the SORT function. Let’s say you want to flip columns A and B together. The formula would look like this:
=SORT(A2:B, ROW(A2:A)*N(A2:A<>""), 0)
Feel free to experiment with flipping multiple columns by adding them to the SORT function.
Understanding the Magic: Formula Explanation
You may be curious about how the formulas we’ve discussed actually work. Let me explain:
The formula =SORT(A2:B, ROW(A2:A)*N(A2:A<>""), 0) is based on a similar formula =SORT(A2:B, ROW(A2:A), 0). However, the latter formula assigns row numbers regardless of the values in column A, potentially resulting in numerous blank cells at the top when sorting in descending order.
To avoid this issue, we incorporate either the LEN function or the N function to restrict the number of rows returned by the ROW function. Using the N function serves this purpose perfectly:
=ArrayFormula(ROW(A2:A) * N(A2:A<>""))
Here’s a breakdown of the components:
ROW(A2:A)returns row numbers.N(A2:A<>"")returns 1 for non-blank cells and 0 for blank cells.
By multiplying the row numbers with this N function, we assign row numbers up to the last non-blank cell in column A and fill the remaining cells with zeros.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You now possess the knowledge and tools to flip columns in Google Sheets like a pro. Whether you choose the helper column approach or the non-helper column approach, you’ll be able to reverse values with ease.
Don’t stop here, though! Keep exploring the fascinating world of Google Sheets and unlock even more possibilities. For more useful tips and tricks, head over to Crawlan.com, your go-to destination for all things Google Sheets.
Happy flipping!
