How to use the CHOOSECOLS function

The CHOOSECOLS function returns given columns from a cell range or array.

Dynamic array formula in cell B9:

The CHOOSECOLS function is available to Excel 365 users and is in the "Array manipulation" category.

1. CHOOSECOLS Function Syntax

CHOOSECOLS(array, col_num1, [col_num2], …)

Back to top

2. CHOOSECOLS Function Arguments

array	Required. The source cell range or array.
col_num1	Required. A number represents the column in a given cell range.
[col_num2]	Optional. Extra column numbers to be extracted.

Back to top

3. CHOOSECOLS Function example

The picture above shows how the CHOOSECOLS function extracts the second and third column from cell range B2:D5.

Dynamic array formula in cell B9:

3.1 Explaining formula

Step 1 - CHOOSECOLS function

CHOOSECOLS(array, col_num1, [col_num2], …)

Step 2 - Populate arguments

array - B2:D5
col_num1 - 2
[col_num2] - 3

Step 3 - Evaluate function

CHOOSECOLS(B2:D5, 2, 3)

becomes

CHOOSECOLS({89, 27, 26;
68, 84, 98;
19, 92, 62;
37, 63, 45}, 2, 3)

and returns

{27, 26; 84, 98;
92, 62; 63, 45}

Back to top

4. How to combine specific cell range columns - CHOOSECOLS Function

The CHOOSECOLS function lets you use an array in the arguments, the image above shows an array in the second argument.

Dynamic array formula in cell B9:

Explaining formula

Step 1 - Populate the array

The curly brackets let you build an array that you can use in most but not all Excel functions. The ; semicolon is a delimiting character that separates values row by row.

The CHOOSE function requires numbers separated with semicolons or whatever row delimiting character you use.

{1; 3}

Step 2 - CHOOSECOLS function

CHOOSECOLS(array, col_num1, [col_num2], …)

CHOOSECOLS(B2:D5, {1; 3})

becomes

CHOOSECOLS({89, 27, 26;
68, 84, 98;
19, 92, 62;
37, 63, 45}, {1; 3})

and returns

{89, 26;
68, 98;
19, 62;
37,45}

Back to top

5. How to combine specific columns based on a given value - CHOOSECOLS Function

The section shows how to return specific rows based on a string containing numbers. The TEXTSPLIT function separates values into an array.

Dynamic array formula in cell B9:

Explaining formula

Step 1 - Split text

The TEXTSPLIT function lets you split a string into an array across columns and rows based on delimiting characters.

TEXTSPLIT(Input_Text, col_delimiter, [row_delimiter], [Ignore_Empty])

TEXTSPLIT(F2,,",")

becomes

TEXTSPLIT("1,2", , ",")

and returns {"1"; "2"}.

Note the double quotes, Excel handles these values as text values. The next step converts text values to numbers.

Step 2 - Convert text to numbers

The asterisk lets you multiply numbers in an Excel formula, I am using it here to convert text to numbers.

TEXTSPLIT(F2,,",")*1

becomes

{"1"; "2"}*1

and returns {1; 2}.

Step 3 - CHOOSECOLS function

CHOOSECOLS(B2:D5,TEXTSPLIT(F2,,",")*1)

becomes

CHOOSECOLS(B2:D5, {1; 2})

becomes

CHOOSECOLS({89, 27, 26;
68, 84, 98;
19, 92, 62;
37, 63, 45}, {1; 2})

and returns

{89, 27;
68, 84;
19, 92;
37, 63}

Back to top

6. How to combine columns using negative values - CHOOSECOLS Function

The CHOOSECOLS function lets you use negative numbers, this will make the function count from the right.

Formula in cell B9:

CHOOSECOLS(array, col_num1, [col_num2], …)

Back to top

7. CHOOSECOLS function returns a #VALUE! error

The CHOOSECOLS function returns a #VALUE! error when no values can be displayed. There are only three columns in cell range B2:D5.

Back to top

8. Extract values from given columns and return the list in random order - CHOOSECOLS function

The image above shows a formula that returns values in random order from columns two and three.

Dynamic array formula in cell B8:

8.1 Explaining formula in cell B8

Step 1 - Filter columns 2 and 3

CHOOSECOLS(B2:D5, 2, 3)

becomes

CHOOSECOLS({89, 27, 26;
68, 84, 98;
19, 92, 62;
37, 63, 45}, 2, 3)

and returns

{27,26;
84,98;
92,62;
63,45}

Step 2 - Rearrange values to a single row

The TOROW function rearranges values from a 2D cell range or array to a single row.

TOROW(array, [ignore], [scan_by_col])

TOROW(CHOOSECOLS(B2:D5,2,3))

becomes

TOROW({27,26;
84,98;
92,62;
63,45}

and returns

{27, 26, 84, 98, 92, 62, 63, 45}.

Step 3 - Count cells

The COLUMNS function returns the number of columns in a given cell range or array.

COLUMNS(array)

COLUMNS(TOROW(CHOOSECOLS(B2:D5,2, 3)))

becomes

COLUMNS({27, 26, 84, 98, 92, 62, 63, 45})

and returns 8.

Step 4 - Count rows

The ROWS function returns the number of rows in a given cell range or array.

ROWS (array)

ROWS(CHOOSECOLS(B2:D5,2, 3))

becomes

ROWS({27,26;
84,98;
92,62;
63,45})

and returns 4.

Step 5 - Create random decimal numbers

The RANDARRAY function returns a table of random numbers across rows and columns.

RANDARRAY([rows], [columns], [min], [max], [whole_number])

RANDARRAY(,COLUMNS(TOROW(CHOOSECOLS(B2:D5,2, 3))))

becomes

RANDARRAY(,6)

and returns

{0.215398134613085, 0.390607168196479, ... ,0.83231474462401}.

Step 6 - Rearrange values in random order

The SORTBY function allows you to sort values from a cell range or array based on a corresponding cell range or array.

SORTBY(array, by_array1, [sort_order1], [by_array2, sort_order2],…)

SORTBY(TOROW(CHOOSECOLS(B2:D5,2, 4)),RANDARRAY(,COLUMNS(CHOOSECOLS(B2:D5,2, 3))))

becomes

SORTBY({27,26;
84,98;
92,62;
63,45}, {0.215398134613085, 0.390607168196479, ... ,0.83231474462401})

and returns

{84, 98, 27, 92, 62, 26, 45, 63}

Step 7 - Rearrange values to the original array size

The WRAPCOLS function rearranges values from a single row to a 2D cell range based on a given number of values per column.

WRAPCOLS(vector, wrap_count, [pad_with])

WRAPCOLS(SORTBY(TOROW(CHOOSECOLS(B2:D5,2, 4)),RANDARRAY(,COLUMNS(TOROW(CHOOSECOLS(B2:D5,2, 4))))),ROWS(CHOOSECOLS(B2:D5,2, 3)))

becomes

WRAPCOLS({63, 37, 45, 98, 84, 68}, ROWS(CHOOSECOLS(B2:D5,2, 3)))

becomes

WRAPCOLS({84, 98, 27, 92, 62, 26, 45, 63}, 4)

and returns

{84, 98; 27, 92; 62, 26; 45, 63}.

Step 8 - Shorten formula

The LET function lets you name intermediate calculation results which can shorten formulas considerably and improve performance.

LET(name1, name_value1, calculation_or_name2, [name_value2, calculation_or_name3...])

WRAPCOLS(SORTBY(TOROW(CHOOSECOLS(B2:D5, 2, 3)), RANDARRAY(, COLUMNS(TOROW(CHOOSECOLS(B2:D5, 2, 3))))), TOROW(CHOOSECOLS(B2:D5, 2, 3)))

becomes

LET(z, CHOOSECOLS(B2:D5, 2, 3), x, TOROW(z), WRAPCOLS(SORTBY(x, RANDARRAY(, COLUMNS(x))), ROWS(z)))

Back to top

9. Join multiple non-adjacent cell ranges and return given columns (3D range) - CHOOSECOLS function

The picture above shows a formula that merges three non-contiguous cell ranges and shows rows 1, 5, and 9.

Dynamic array formula in cell B9:

9.1 Explaining formula

Step 1 - Stack values horizontally

The VSTACK function lets you combine cell ranges or arrays, it joins data to the first blank cell at the bottom of a cell range or array (vertical stacking)

VSTACK(array1, [array2],...)

VSTACK(B3:D6, F3:H6, J3:L6)

becomes

VSTACK({"Peach", 43, 1.03;"Blueberry", 39, 1.48;"Apple", 46, 1.1;"Grapefruit", 14, 0.72}, {"Mandarin", 29, 0.78;"Raspberry", 33, 1.07;"Plum", 25, 0.9;"Mango", 37, 1.13}, {"Pear", 17, 0.63;"Orange", 31, 1.06;"Lime", 17, 1.27;"Kiwi", 45, 0.58})

and returns

{"Peach", 43, 1.03;
"Blueberry", 39, 1.48;
"Apple", 46, 1.1;
"Grapefruit", 14, 0.72;
"Mandarin", 29, 0.78;
"Raspberry", 33, 1.07;
"Plum", 25, 0.9;
"Mango", 37, 1.13;
"Pear", 17, 0.63;
"Orange", 31, 1.06;
"Lime", 17, 1.27;
"Kiwi", 45, 0.58}

Step 2 - Filter given rows

CHOOSECOLS(VSTACK(B3:D6, F3:H6, J3:L6),1, 2)

becomes

CHOOSECOLS({"Peach", 43, 1.03;
"Blueberry", 39, 1.48;
"Apple", 46, 1.1;
"Grapefruit", 14, 0.72;
"Mandarin", 29, 0.78;
"Raspberry", 33, 1.07;
"Plum", 25, 0.9;
"Mango", 37, 1.13;
"Pear", 17, 0.63;
"Orange", 31, 1.06;
"Lime", 17, 1.27;
"Kiwi", 45, 0.58}, 1, 5, 9)

and returns

{"Peach", 43;
"Blueberry", 39;
"Apple", 46;
"Grapefruit", 14;
"Mandarin", 29;
"Raspberry", 33;
"Plum", 25;
"Mango", 37;
"Pear", 17;
"Orange", 31;
"Lime", 17;
"Kiwi", 45}

Back to top

How to use the CHOOSECOLS functionv2

Useful links

CHOOSECOLS function - Microsoft support
CHOOSECOLS Function in Excel: Explained
CHOOSECOLS function in Excel to get columns from array or range

Functions in 'Array manipulation' category

The CHOOSECOLS function function is one of 11 functions in the 'Array manipulation' category.

Excel function categories

Excel categories

Leave a Comment