Question

Explain a situation where user would transpose data on a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel. Give at least one example to illustrate your reasoning

Answer 1

Answer:

You can do this by copying, pasting, and using the Transpose option. But doing that creates duplicated data. If you don't want that, you can type a formula instead using the TRANSPOSE function. For example, in the following picture the formula =TRANSPOSE(A1:B4) takes the cells A1 through B4 and arranges them horizontally.

Step 1: Select blank cells

First select some blank cells. But make sure to select the same number of cells as the original set of cells, but in the other direction. For example, there are 8 cells here that are arranged vertically:

Cells in A1:B4

So, we need to select eight horizontal cells, like this:

Cells A6:D7 selected

This is where the new, transposed cells will end up.

Step 2: Type =TRANSPOSE(

With those blank cells still selected, type: =TRANSPOSE(

Excel will look similar to this:

=TRANSPOSE(

Notice that the eight cells are still selected even though we have started typing a formula.

Step 3: Type the range of the original cells.

Now type the range of the cells you want to transpose. In this example, we want to transpose cells from A1 to B4. So the formula for this example would be: =TRANSPOSE(A1:B4) -- but don't press ENTER yet! Just stop typing, and go to the next step.

Excel will look similar to this:

=TRANSPOSE(A1:B4)

Step 4: Finally, press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER

Now press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER. Why? Because the TRANSPOSE function is only used in array formulas, and that's how you finish an array formula. An array formula, in short, is a formula that gets applied to more than one cell. Because you selected more than one cell in step 1 (you did, didn't you?), the formula will get applied to more than one cell. Here's the result after pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER: