Sort column data separated by blanks into other column

Is ialways the same...

3 items 1 gap, 3 items, 1 gap?

if not, post some REPRESENTATIVE data. Please don't attach a picture of a sheet!!.

Unfortunately the attachment icon doesn't work at the moment. So, to attach an Excel file you have to do the following: Just before posting, scroll down to Go Advanced and then scroll down to Manage Attachments. Now follow the instructions at the top of that screen.

If your post is really what you have... use this (assuming data in A1 to A11), copied across and down:

if your data are text (as in the example) use this:

=IFERROR(IF(ROWS($1:1)<=4,INDEX($A$1:$A$11,ROWS($1:1)+(COLUMNS($A:A)-1)*4)&"",""),"")

if your data are numbers, use this:
=IFERROR(1/(1/IF(ROWS($1:1)<=4,INDEX($A$1:$A$11,ROWS($1:1)+(COLUMNS($A:A)-1)*4),"")),"")

Are the texts "Group 1", "Group 2", etc, actually there in your real data?

Is there anything at all in the adjacent columns?

Do you need backward compatability with Excel 97-2003? I'm 99.9% there, BtW!!!

If you do not need backward compatability with old Excel versions...

In B2, copied down as far as the last row:

=IF(ISNUMBER(A2),1+B1,0)

In D2, use this array formula, copied across and down:

=IFERROR(INDEX($A:$A,SMALL(IF(B1:$B$317=ROWS($D$1:$D1),ROW(B1:$B$317)),COLUMNS($A:A))),"")

Array Formulae are a little different from ordinary formulae in that they MUST be confirmed by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER to activate the array, not just ENTER.

You will know the array is active when you see curly brackets { } - or "curly braces" for those of you in the USA, or "flower brackets" for those of you in India - appear around the outside of your formula. If you do not use CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER you will (almost always) get an error message or an incorrect answer. Press F2 on that cell and try again.

Don't type the curly brackets yourself - it won't work...

If you do need backward compatability, use this array formula, instead:

=IF(ISERROR(INDEX($A$1:$A$317,SMALL(IF(B2:$B$317=ROWS($D$1:$D2),ROW(B2:$B$317)),COLUMNS($A$1:A$1)))),"",INDEX($A$1:$A$317,SMALL(IF(B2:$B$317=ROWS($D$1:$D2),ROW(B2:$B$317)),COLUMNS($A$1:A$1))))

Heh!!! There's a minor error that I've just spotted:

=IFERROR(INDEX($A:$A,SMALL(IF($B$1:$B$317=ROWS($D$1:$D1),ROW($B$1:$B$317)),COLUMNS($A:A))),"")

and this applies to BOTH versions.

The issue I am facing now is, if I don't have 7 entries in the first group (ex by deleting 986 in A32 ); the index array formula shifts the last row towards the left (filled in red). Is there any way to record them as a group they belong.

Also posted here:

http://www.excelguru.ca/forums/showt...o-other-column

http://www.mrexcel.com/forum/excel-q...er-column.html

Your post does not comply with Rule 8 of our Forum RULES. Do not crosspost your question on multiple forums without including links here to the other threads on other forums.

Cross-posting is when you post the same question in other forums on the web. The last thing you want to do is waste people's time working on an issue you have already resolved elsewhere. We prefer that you not cross-post at all, but if you do (and it's unlikely to go unnoticed), you MUST provide a link (copy the url from the address bar in your browser) to the cross-post.

Expect cross-posted questions without a link to be closed and a message will be posted by the moderator explaining why. We are here to help so help us to help you!

Read this to understand why we ask you to do this, and then please edit your first post to include links to any and all cross-posts in any other forums (not just this site).

http://www.excelguru.ca/forums/showt...o-other-column