๐ Text Column Splitter
Rearrange a one-item-per-line list into a multi-column layout with a chosen number of columns. Useful for laying out a name list or word list into columns for printing.
How to use
- Enter your list with one item per line.
- Choose the number of columns and the fill order (down first or across first).
- Choose a delimiter โ the rearranged multi-column result appears automatically.
How the calculation works
This tool rearranges a one-item-per-line list into a table with the number of columns you choose. Empty lines are ignored, and the number of rows is the item count divided by the column count, rounded up. "Down first" fills the first column top to bottom before moving to the next. For item i (counting from 0), the column is i รท rows (integer part) and the row is the remainder โ the reading order of newspaper columns or an index. "Across first" fills the first row left to right before moving on (the row is i รท columns, the column is the remainder). The cells in each row are joined with the chosen delimiter. With Tab, the result splits into cells automatically when pasted into Excel or Google Sheets.
Worked example
Input (9 items): Alice / Bob / Carol / Dave / Eve / Frank / Grace / Heidi / Ivan Columns: 3 (rows = 9 รท 3 = 3) Down first Alice Dave Grace Bob Eve Heidi Carol Frank Ivan Across first Alice Bob Carol Dave Eve Frank Grace Heidi Ivan
Things to be aware of
- In down-first order, the rightmost columns can end up empty. For example, 4 items in 3 columns gives 2 rows, so every item fits in the first two columns.
- The Space delimiter uses two spaces. Columns are not padded to equal width, so items of different lengths will not line up.
- Empty lines are not counted as items. To leave a blank cell, enter a placeholder such as a single space.
FAQ
What's the difference between "down first" and "across first"?
"Down first" fills the entire first column top to bottom before moving to the next column (like a newspaper layout), while "across first" fills the first row left to right before moving to the next row.
What happens if the item count doesn't divide evenly into the columns?
The leftover cells are simply left blank in the result.
Can I paste the result into Excel or a spreadsheet?
Yes โ set the delimiter to "Tab" and copy the result; pasting it into Excel or a spreadsheet will automatically split it into separate cells.