If you’re tired of working with cluttered data in Google Sheets, I have a juicy secret to share with you: inserting blank rows can make your life so much easier! Not only does it enhance the readability of your data, but it also ensures that no crucial values get hidden by formulas. In this article, I’ll show you how to effortlessly add blank rows using a simple formula. So grab your favorite beverage, and let’s get started!
The Power of Inserting Blank Rows
There are countless reasons why you might want to add blank rows to your data in Google Sheets. For example, by inserting blank rows after every other row, you can make your data easier to read and differentiate between different sets of information. It’s also an effective way to highlight important data and make it stand out.
Additionally, inserting blank rows is incredibly useful when you want to apply an array formula to a merged cell range without losing any values. By inserting those extra rows, you ensure that your array formula covers all the necessary data and delivers accurate results.
Using VLOOKUP to Insert Blank Rows
One of the easiest methods to insert blank rows in Google Sheets is by using the VLOOKUP formula. With this formula, you can add a specific number of blank rows after each row in your data. Let me walk you through the steps:
=ARRAYFORMULA(
LET(
range, "A2:B",
first_col, A1:A,
n, 2,
test, XMATCH("?*",TO_TEXT(first_col),2,-1),
IFNA(
VLOOKUP(
SEQUENCE(test*(n+1),1,0)/(n+1)+1,
HSTACK(SEQUENCE(test),INDIRECT(range&test)),
{2,3},
0
)
)
)
)By adjusting the range and n values in the formula, you can customize the number of blank rows to insert and apply the formula to different data ranges. For example, you can change the range from “A2:B” to “B5:C” and n from 2 to 3 to insert three blank rows after every alternate row in the range B5:C.
Figure 1: Sample data and formula output showing blank rows in Google Sheets
The Anatomy of the VLOOKUP Formula
Let’s break down the VLOOKUP formula used to insert blank rows in Google Sheets. This formula combines two SEQUENCE formulas, one for the range and another as the VLOOKUP search key.
The syntax of the VLOOKUP formula in Google Sheets is as follows:
VLOOKUP(search_key, range, index, [is_sorted])To insert blank rows, we generate a sequence of numbers and stack it with the data range to form the range argument in the VLOOKUP formula. The search_key is determined using the formula sequence numbers * n / (n + 1).
By leveraging this combination of VLOOKUP and SEQUENCE, you can easily add multiple blank rows below each row in Google Sheets. This method offers flexibility and allows you to modify and customize your data effortlessly.
Figure 4: VLOOKUP and SEQUENCE combo in Google Sheets
Introducing the REDUCE Formula
While the VLOOKUP-based formula mentioned earlier is dynamic and works with open and closed ranges, we can also achieve similar results using the REDUCE function. Here’s an example of using the REDUCE formula to insert one blank row below each row in a closed range:
=REDUCE(
,
B3:B8,
LAMBDA(a,v,IFNA(VSTACK(a,FILTER(B3:E8,ROW(B3:B8)=ROW(v)),)))
)Please note that the above formula has a limitation where it inserts one blank row at the top. Nonetheless, it remains one of the best formulas for adding blank rows in Google Sheets, especially when working with closed ranges.
Figure 5: REDUCE formula to insert blank rows in Google Sheets
Reveal Hidden or Trimmed-off Values in Merged Cells
When you apply an array formula to a merged cell range, it often hides some values, depending on the number of merged rows. To overcome this limitation and reveal all the values, you can use the formulas discussed above in real-life scenarios.
For instance, the REDUCE-based formula can help you reveal hidden values in merged cells. By correctly specifying the data range and applying the formula, you can ensure that all values are accounted for.
Figure 6: Reveal hidden values in merged cells in Google Sheets
In a nutshell, with the ability to insert blank rows using these powerful formulas, you can make your Google Sheets data more organized, readable, and comprehensive. These techniques empower you to optimize your data presentation and unlock the full potential of Google Sheets.
To explore more Google Sheets tutorials and supercharge your productivity, check out Crawlan.com. Happy spreadsheet-ing!
I hope you enjoyed this article as much as I enjoyed sharing these juicy secrets with you!
