How to use the TOCOL function

Author: Oscar Cronquist Article last updated on January 31, 2023

TOCOL function example 1

The TOCOL function lets you rearrange values in 2D cell ranges to a single column.

Dynamic array formula in cell E3:

=TOCOL(B2:E4)

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

TOCOL Function Syntax
TOCOL Function Arguments
TOCOL Function example
TOCOL Function example - by column
TOCOL Function - blanks and errors
TOCOL Function alternative
TOCOL Function - multiple cell ranges as source
Extract unique distinct values from a cell range
Extract unique distinct values from multiple cell ranges

1. TOCOL Function Syntax

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

2. TOCOL Function Arguments

array	Required. The source cell range or array. Use parentheses and comma delimiter to add more arrays or cell ranges. See section 7 below for an example.
[ignore]	Optional. Ignore specified values. 0 - keep all values (default) 1 - ignore blanks 2 - ignore errors 3- ignore blanks and errors
[scan_by_col]	Optional. How the function fetches the values from the source. FALSE - by row (default). TRUE - by column.

3. TOCOL Function example

TOCOL function example1

The image above demonstrates how the TOCOL function rearranges the values to fit a single column, and that it is fetching values by row in its default state.

Dynamic array formula in cell E4:

=TOCOL(B2:E4)

Note, if any of the values in the source ranges change the same values in the result from the TOCOL function change as well.

3.1 Explaining formula

Step 1 - TOCOL function

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

Step 2 - Populate arguments

array - B2:E4

Step 3 - Evaluate function

TOCOL(B2:E4)

becomes

TOCOL({89, 68, 19, 37;
27, 84, 92, 63;
26, 98, 62, 100})

and returns

{89; 68; 19; 37; 27; 84; 92; 63; 26; 98; 62; 100}

4. TOCOL Function example - by column

TOCOL function example2

The image above demonstrates how the TOCOL function rearranges the values to fit a single column, this example shows it fetching values column by column. Default value is FALSE - by row.

Dynamic array formula in cell E4:

=TOCOL(B2:E4, , TRUE)

4.1 Explaining formula

Step 1 - TOCOL function

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

Step 2 - Populate arguments

array - B2:E4
[scan_by_col]) - TRUE

Step 3 - Evaluate function

TOCOL(B2:E4, , TRUE)

becomes

TOCOL({89, 68, 19, 37;
27, 84, 92, 63;
26, 98, 62, 100})

and returns

{89; 68; 19; 37; 27; 84; 92; 63; 26; 98; 62; 100}

5. TOCOL Function - blanks and errors

TOCOL function blanks and errors

The image above demonstrates what happens when your source data has empty values and errors.

The result is an array containing a 0 (zero) located at the empty values and the error values are kept.

Dynamic array formula in cell E4:

=TOCOL(B2:E4)

The image below shows how to deal with blanks and error values.

TOCOL function blanks and errors1

You can ignore blank and error values using the second argument.

Here are all valid numbers for the second argument:
0 - keep all values (default)
1 - ignore blanks
2 - ignore errors
3- ignore blanks and errors

Dynamic array formula in cell E4:

=TOCOL(B2:E4, 3)

5.1 Explaining formula

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

TOCOL(B2:E4, 3)

becomes

TOCOL({89, 68, 19, 37;
27, 0, 92, 63;
26, 98, 62, #DIV/0!}
)

and returns

{89; 68; 19; 37; 27; 92; 63; 26; 98; 62}

6. TOCOL alternative

There are no great alternative formulas for earlier Excel versions. Here are a few links:

7. TOCOL function - multiple cell ranges as source

TOCOL function multiple source cell ranges

You can consolidate values across worksheets if you combine the VSTACK function and the TOCOL function, the formula spills values into a single column.

The image above shows how to combine values from cell ranges B2:C3, E2:F3, and H2:I3 into a single column.

Dynamic array formula in cell B8:

=TOCOL(VSTACK(B2:C3, E2:F3, H2:I3))

Update! The TOCOL function accepts multiple references in the array argument. There is no need for the VSTACK function. Here is how:

=TOCOL((B2:C3, E2:F3, H2:I3))

The parentheses and a delimiting comma let you use multiple non-adjacent cell ranges.

7.1 Explaining formula

Step 1 - Stack values from multiple sources

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.

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

VSTACK(B2:C3, E2:F3, H2:I3)

becomes

VSTACK({89,68;27,84}, {19,37;92,63}, {26,98;62,100})

and returns

{89,68;
27,84;
19,37;
92,63;
26,98;
62,100}

Step 2 - Rearrange values into one column

TOCOL(VSTACK(B2:C3, E2:F3, H2:I3))

becomes

TOCOL({89,68;
27,84;
19,37;
92,63;
26,98;
62,100})

and returns

{89; 68; 27; 84; 19; 37; 92; 63; 26; 98; 62; 100}

8. Extract unique distinct values from a multi-column cell range

TOCOL function Unique distinct values from a cell range

The UNIQUE function doesn't let you extract unique distinct values if your source data has multiple columns, it will return unique distinct rows instead.

However, the TOCOL function allows you to rearrange the values to a single column array, and that lets you extract unique distinct values.

Dynamic array formula in cell B8:

=UNIQUE(TOCOL(B2:G5))

8.1 Explaining formula

Step 1 - Rearrange values

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

TOCOL(B2:G5)

becomes

TOCOL({"Elizabeth","Patricia","Elizabeth","Patricia","Jennifer","William"; "John","John","Robert","Patricia","William","Mary"; "Michael","Elizabeth","Linda","Linda","Michael","Jennifer"; "Linda","William","William","Patricia","Linda","Mary"})

and returns

{"Elizabeth"; "Patricia"; "Elizabeth"; "Patricia"; "Jennifer"; "William"; "John"; "John"; "Robert"; "Patricia"; "William"; "Mary"; "Michael"; "Elizabeth"; "Linda"; "Linda"; "Michael"; "Jennifer"; "Linda"; "William"; "William"; "Patricia"; "Linda"; "Mary"}.

The column delimiting character changed from a comma to a semicolon in the array above. This means that each value is in a new row, in other words, values are rearranged to fit a single column.

Step 2 - Extract unique distinct values

The UNIQUE function is a new Excel 365 function that returns unique and unique distinct values/rows.

UNIQUE(array,[by_col],[exactly_once])

UNIQUE(TOCOL(B2:G5))

becomes

UNIQUE({"Elizabeth"; "Patricia"; "Elizabeth"; "Patricia"; "Jennifer"; "William"; "John"; "John"; "Robert"; "Patricia"; "William"; "Mary"; "Michael"; "Elizabeth"; "Linda"; "Linda"; "Michael"; "Jennifer"; "Linda"; "William"; "William"; "Patricia"; "Linda"; "Mary"})

and returns

{"Elizabeth";"Patricia";"Jennifer";"William";"John";"Robert";"Mary";"Michael";"Linda"}.

9. Extract unique distinct values from multiple cell ranges

TOCOL function Unique distinct values from multiple cell ranges

You can consolidate values across worksheets, rearrange values so they fit a single column, and then extract unique distinct values.

The image above shows a formula that extracts unique distinct values from three different non-adjacent cell ranges.

Dynamic array formula in cell B8:

=UNIQUE(TOCOL(HSTACK(B2:C5, E2:F5, H2:I5)))

Update!

No need to use the HSTACK function. Use the comma as a union operator, it combines multiple cell ranges.

=UNIQUE(TOCOL((B2:C5, E2:F5, H2:I5)))

9.1 Explaining formula

Step 1 - Rearrange values

The HSTACK function lets you combine cell ranges or arrays, it joins data to the first blank cell to the right of a cell range or array (horizontal stacking)

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

HSTACK(B2:C5, E2:F5, H2:I5)

becomes

HSTACK({"Elizabeth", "Patricia"; "John", "John"; "Michael", "Elizabeth"; "Linda", "William"}, {"Elizabeth", "Patricia"; "Robert", "Patricia"; "Linda", "Linda"; "William", "Patricia"}, {"Jennifer", "William"; "William", "Mary"; "Michael", "Jennifer"; "Linda", "Mary"})

and returns

{"Elizabeth", "Patricia", "Elizabeth", "Patricia", "Jennifer", "William"; "John", "John", "Robert", "Patricia", "William", "Mary"; "Michael", "Elizabeth", "Linda", "Linda", "Michael", "Jennifer"; "Linda", "William", "William", "Patricia", "Linda", "Mary"}

Step 2 - Rearrange values to one column

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

TOCOL(HSTACK(B2:C5, E2:F5, H2:I5))

becomes

TOCOL({"Elizabeth", "Patricia", "Elizabeth", "Patricia", "Jennifer", "William"; "John", "John", "Robert", "Patricia", "William", "Mary"; "Michael", "Elizabeth", "Linda", "Linda", "Michael", "Jennifer"; "Linda", "William", "William", "Patricia", "Linda", "Mary"})

and returns

Step 3 - Extract unique distinct values

The UNIQUE function is a new Excel 365 function that returns unique and unique distinct values/rows.

UNIQUE(array,[by_col],[exactly_once])

UNIQUE(TOCOL(HSTACK(B2:C5, E2:F5, H2:I5)))

becomes

and returns

{"Elizabeth"; "Patricia"; "Jennifer"; "William"; "John"; "Robert"; "Mary"; "Michael"; "Linda"}.

'TOCOL' function examples

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More examples

Functions in this article

TOCOL TRUE VSTACK UNIQUE HSTACK

Functions in 'Array manipulation' category

The TOCOL function function is one of many functions in the 'Array manipulation' category.

CHOOSECOLS function

Returns given columns from a cell range or array.

CHOOSEROWS function

Returns given rows from a cell range or array.

DROP function

Removes a given number of rows or columns from a 2D cell range or array.

EXPAND function

Increases a cell range or array by a specified number of columns and rows.

HSTACK function

Combines cell ranges or arrays. Joins data to the first blank cell to the right of a cell range or array (horizontal stacking)

TAKE function

Returns a given number of rows or columns from a 2D cell range or array.

TOCOL function

Rearranges values in 2D cell ranges to a single column.

TOROW function

Rearranges values from a 2D cell range to a single row.

VSTACK function

Combines cell ranges or arrays. Joins data to the first blank cell at the bottom of a cell range or array (vertical stacking)

WRAPCOLS function

Rearranges values from a single row to a 2D cell range based on a given number of values per column.

WRAPROWS function

Rearranges values from a single row to a 2D cell range based on a given number of values per column.

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Calculate distributions, binomial distributions, exponential distribution, probabilities, variance, covariance, confidence interval, frequency, geometric mean, standard deviation, average, median, and other statistical metrics.

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Functions that let you manipulate text values, substitute strings, find string in value, extract a substring in a string, convert characters to ANSI code among other functions.

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Get data from the internet, extract data from an XML string and more.

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Allows you to filter data based on selected value , a given text, or other criteria. It also lets you filter existing data or move filtered values to a new location.

Data Validation

Lets you control what a user can type into a cell. It allows you to specifiy conditions and show a custom message if entered data is not valid.

Drop Down List

Lets the user work more efficiently by showing a list that the user can select a value from. This lets you control what is shown in the list and is faster than typing into a cell.

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Lets you name one or more cells, this makes it easier to find cells using the Name box, read and understand formulas containing names instead of cell references.

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The Excel Solver is a free add-in that uses objective cells, constraints based on formulas on a worksheet to perform what-if analysis and other decision problems like permutations and combinations.

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Format cells or cell values based a condition or criteria, there a multiple built-in Conditional Formatting tools you can use or use a custom-made conditional formatting formula.

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VBA stands for Visual Basic for Applications and is a computer programming language developed by Microsoft, it allows you to automate time-consuming tasks and create custom functions.

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A program or subroutine built in VBA that anyone can create. Use the macro-recorder to quickly create your own VBA macros.

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UDF stands for User Defined Functions and is custom built functions anyone can create.

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How to use the TOCOL function

Table of Contents

1. TOCOL Function Syntax

2. TOCOL Function Arguments

3. TOCOL Function example

3.1 Explaining formula

Step 1 - TOCOL function

Step 2 - Populate arguments

Step 3 - Evaluate function

4. TOCOL Function example - by column

4.1 Explaining formula

Step 1 - TOCOL function

Step 2 - Populate arguments

Step 3 - Evaluate function

5. TOCOL Function - blanks and errors

5.1 Explaining formula

6. TOCOL alternative

7. TOCOL function - multiple cell ranges as source

7.1 Explaining formula

Step 1 - Stack values from multiple sources

Step 2 - Rearrange values into one column

8. Extract unique distinct values from a multi-column cell range

8.1 Explaining formula

Step 1 - Rearrange values

Step 2 - Extract unique distinct values

9. Extract unique distinct values from multiple cell ranges

9.1 Explaining formula

Step 1 - Rearrange values

Step 2 - Rearrange values to one column

Step 3 - Extract unique distinct values

'TOCOL' function examples

Functions in this article

Functions in 'Array manipulation' category

Excel function categories

Excel categories

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