How to "flatten" or "collapse" a 2D Excel table into 1D?

How to "Flatten" or "Collapse" a 2D Excel Table into 1D 📊

Do you have a large 2D Excel table and want to transform it into a 1D format? If you're looking to collapse or flatten your table, we've got you covered! In this guide, we'll walk you through the process step-by-step, providing easy solutions for any common issues you may encounter along the way. So let's get started! 💪

The Problem: Converting a 2D Table into 1D

Let's set the context. Imagine you have a two-dimensional table in Excel with countries and years. It looks something like this:

1961        1962        1963        1964
USA      a           x            g           y
France   u           e            h           a
Germany  o           x            n           p

What you want is to "flatten" or "collapse" this table into a 1D format, where each row represents a combination of country, year, and value. Here's the desired outcome:

Country      Year       Value
USA          1961       a
USA          1962       x
USA          1963       g
USA          1964       y
France       1961       u
...

Now, let's explore the possible solutions!

Solution 1: Using Excel's Transpose Function 🔄

If you have a small dataset, Excel's Transpose function can come in handy. Here's how you can use it:

1. Copy your 2D table and paste it into a new sheet or location in Excel.

2. Select the range of the copied table.

3. Right-click the selected range and choose "Copy" (or press Ctrl+C).

4. Right-click the cell where you want to transpose the table and select "Paste Special."

5. In the "Paste Special" dialog box, check the "Transpose" option and click "OK."

Voila! 🎉 Your 2D table is now transformed into a 1D format.

Solution 2: Power Query to the Rescue 🦸‍♀️

For larger datasets or more complex transformations, you can leverage Excel's Power Query functionality. Let's walk through the steps:

1. Select the range of your 2D table.

2. In Excel, go to the "Data" tab and click on "Get & Transform Data" (may also appear as "Power Query").

3. Choose the option that suits your needs, like "From Table" or "From Range."

4. Within the Power Query Editor, you can perform various transformations. To flatten your table, follow these steps:

   • Select the columns you want to transform into rows (e.g., the years).

   • Go to the "Transform" tab and click on "Unpivot Columns."

And voila! 🎉 Your 2D table is now converted into a 1D format using the power of Power Query!

Call-to-Action: Share Your Experience 📢

We hope this guide helped you flatten or collapse your 2D Excel table into a 1D format. Now, we want to hear from you! Have you encountered any other table-related challenges in Excel? Let us know in the comments below. And don't forget to share this guide with your fellow Excel enthusiasts! 🙌

Happy flattening! 👩‍💻🚀