question about what index formula is doing to transpose

I am using this formula but I don't understand what it is doing. =INDEX($A$5:$H$5,ROWS(B$8:B8))

example attached. it seems to be counting rows as I fill down to give the argument for row_number. I am confused b/c my array is just one row. So if that argument is 1, then 2, then 3 and so on for the row number, how is it pulling the values? seems totally backwards b/c it is really pulling column 1 then, 2, then 3.

followup question is are there any alternative ways to do this? it will be to constantly be transposing date from rows to columns for a report. the source data will be changing a lot and will be across multiple sheets.

thx for the help.

B

haha well now it makes total sense. =) thx for the explanation flame

This is what the ROWS function is doing:

A7 =ROWS(B$7:B7) = the number of rows in the range B7:B7 = 1
A8 =ROWS(B$7:B8) = the number of rows in the range B7:B8 = 2
A9 =ROWS(B$7:B9) = the number of rows in the range B7:B9 = 3
etc.

i had to break it out similarly to figure out what just the ROWS function was doing. thx for the clarification falcon.