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In this article
CHOOSECOLS returns only the columns you list, in the order you list them.
Syntax
=CHOOSECOLS(array, col_num1, [col_num2], ...)| Argument | What it means |
|---|---|
col_num |
1 = first column; negative counts from the right. |
Examples
Example 1
=CHOOSECOLS(A2:H500, 3, 1, 8)Customer, Date and Amount only — reordered.
Example 2
=CHOOSECOLS(FILTER(A2:H500, B2:B500="North"), 1, 8)Filter first, then keep two columns.
CHOOSECOLS in practice
Where you will use it
- Pick and reorder columns from a table
- Feed only needed columns to a report
- Drop columns without deleting them
Worked example
| Column | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | =ARRAYTOTEXT(CHOOSECOLS({"Pune",42,"West";"Delhi",57,"North"},A2)) | Pune, Delhi |
| 3 | =ARRAYTOTEXT(CHOOSECOLS({"Pune",42,"West";"Delhi",57,"North"},A3)) | West, North |
| -1 | =ARRAYTOTEXT(CHOOSECOLS({"Pune",42,"West";"Delhi",57,"North"},A4)) | West, North |
Results calculated in Excel.
Mistakes people make
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Column numbers out of range | #VALUE! |
| Several columns | List them: CHOOSECOLS(t,3,1) reorders |
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📎 Practice files for this article
- 📗Practice workbook: Dynamic arrays18 tasks on realistic sales data — type your formula, the Check column turns green when it is right. Answers sheet included.⬇ XLSX · 35 KB
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