Syntax
CHOOSECOLS(array, col_num1, [col_num2, ...])
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| array | Parameter of the CHOOSECOLS function. |
| col_num1 | Parameter of the CHOOSECOLS function. |
| [col_num2 | (Optional.) Parameter of the CHOOSECOLS function. |
| ...] | Parameter of the CHOOSECOLS function. |
Examples
Pick columns 1 and 4 from a table
Formula
=CHOOSECOLS(A1:F100, 1, 4)
Returns a 2-column result containing just the 1st and 4th columns from the 6-column source. Perfect for extracting name and phone from a contacts table.
Reorder columns
Formula
=CHOOSECOLS(A1:D50, 3, 1, 4, 2)
Returns all 4 columns but rearranged in the order: 3rd, 1st, 4th, 2nd. Great for reformatting exports to match a required import order.
Last column shortcut
Formula
=CHOOSECOLS(A1:F100, -1)
Returns just the last column. Negative numbers count from the right, so -1 is the rightmost column.
Common Errors
#VALUE!
A column number is zero or exceeds the number of columns in the array (in either positive or negative direction).
#SPILL!
Output cells are not empty.
Tips
Negative column numbers
Use -1 for the last column, -2 for second-to-last, etc. This makes formulas resilient to arrays that might change width.
Duplicate columns allowed
You can repeat a column number: CHOOSECOLS(data, 1, 1, 2) returns column 1 twice followed by column 2. Useful for creating specific layouts.
Combine with FILTER
=CHOOSECOLS(FILTER(A1:F100, C1:C100>50000), 1, 3, 5) filters rows first, then picks only the columns you want. A two-step data extraction.
Try CHOOSECOLS in Viztab
Import your data and use CHOOSECOLS with 370+ other formulas. No signup required.
Open Viztab