Is it possible to switch the rows and columns?

Question

Is it possible to switch the rows and columns of a table? The reason I ask is that it would be easier for me to input the data with the number at the top of a column and the fields going down. But it would be easier to read the data with the number on the left and the fields going to the right. Is it possible to switch a table in this way?

Answer 1

mahongue wrote:
Is it possible to switch the rows and columns of a table? The reason I ask is
that it would be easier for me to input the data with the number at the top
of a column and the fields going down. But it would be easier to read the
data with the number on the left and the fields going to the right. Is it
possible to switch a table in this way?
It sounds to me as though you wish to transpose a table so that the original is changed from rows to columns and from columns to rows, as in the following:
Table 1
    A   B   C
========
1   o   p   q
2   r   s   t
3   u   v   w
Table 2
    A   B   C
========
1   o   r   u
2   p   s   v
3   q   t   w
You are right - it would be nice to have a menu item to magically transpose a selected block of cells. But there isn't one. So...
One way to solve this is to use the index() and transpose() functions to accomplish row and column cell transposition. If you are going to use a 1:1 cell correspondence and change the header columns and rows also, you can use this:
   =INDEX(TRANSPOSE(Table # :: <range>),ROW(),COLUMN())
where Table # and <range> is substituted as in the following fashion:
   =INDEX(TRANSPOSE(Table 1 :: $A$1:$C$3),ROW(),COLUMN())
Create a second table. Copy the modified formula above with the appropriate substitutions, select the range you wish to have your transposition inserted into (must match the transposed cell dimensions of the original range), paste the forumula and voila! the cells will be transposed.
Cautions:
o The target table must match the swapped cell length and width dimension. For example, if the original data range is 6 columns wide by 4 rows deep, then the corresponding table or range to hold the transposition must be 4 columns wide by 6 rows deep.
o If your transposed data block is to be offset from the origin of the new table, then you will need to include a subtractive offset into your cell formula, since in the transpose() function the data in the master data range is referenced from its position with the master range, not its cell position in the table. Such an offset is necessary because this example formula uses the target row and column numbers to arrive at indexed positions.
For example, if the new data range is to be offset one column to the right and one row below from the target table's origin then you must subtract (-1) from the cell and from the column references in the formula:
  Example:
  =INDEX(TRANSPOSE(Table 3 :: $B$2:$D$4),ROW()-1,COLUMN()-1)
If someone has a better solution I'd be glad to hear of it.