How to group and Ungroup Columns In Google Sheets

Sometimes your Google Sheet might contain a lot of information. You may want to group some columns and hide the information in them to make the sheet look sharp and tidy. This is when you can use grouping. 

Grouping columns helps you organize, summarize, and format data neatly. Say you have data about a group of people. You only need the favorite color of each person. Other details about that person are not needed right now. So you group columns B and C in the image below to hide data.

If you want to change or view more details about the person, click the plus sign on top of the column. Now, you can view the other columns as well. 

Grouping and ungrouping columns in Google Sheets

  • Grouping columns in Google Sheets
  • Collapsing and expanding columns
  • Multilayered grouping of columns
  • Ungrouping columns in Google Sheets

Grouping columns in Google Sheets

Google Sheets allows you to group columns. You can hide and unhide the columns after grouping them.  

Step 1: Select your columns.

Select the columns that you want to hide. Using the same example above, let’s take 5 people with their gender, age, and favorite color. Let’s group columns B and C. 

Step 2: Right-click and select Group Columns.

After selecting the columns you want to group, right-click and select Group Columns B-C. 

B-C will be replaced with the range of columns you have selected. 

Step 3: Check if the columns have been grouped.

To know if you have grouped the columns, check for a minus sign (-) above the column names. The minus (-) sign indicates that the columns have been grouped. 


Collapsing and expanding columns

You can expand and collapse the columns you have grouped. 

Step 1: Identify the columns.

Assuming that the data is to be used to buy a bag of a person’s favorite color, you can just collapse the age and gender column. The age and gender would be irrelevant here as you’d only need the name of the person and their favorite color. 

Similarly, identify the columns you want to hide. 

Step 2: Check if they are grouped.

After identification, you need to check if those columns have been grouped. To identify whether the columns have been grouped, check for a minus sign above the columns you want to hide. 

Step 3: Click the minus sign (or plus sign).

Finally, to collapse or hide the columns, click the minus sign. Now, you can see the minus sign disappear, and the plus sign appear. The plus sign indicates that there are hidden columns. 

To hide the unnecessary details, you can collapse those columns using the minus sign. To view the columns again, you can expand using the plus sign. 


Multilayered grouping of columns

Sometimes, your data might not be simple, and you may want to group columns in multiple layers. The columns can be overlapping or non-overlapping. 

Step 1: Identify the columns.

Start by having a clear picture of the columns to be grouped. For instance, in the table below, we can use the data for two purposes. 

  • To get their favorite color for ordering the bag
  • To get their phone number for delivering the bag

Group 1 – Columns B, C, and D (age, gender and phone number)

Group 2 – Columns B and C (age and gender)

Step 2: Right-click and select Group Columns.

Select the columns and group them. For more than one group, you have to repeat the steps. 

Group columns B, C, and D, after grouping columns B and C. 

Step 3: Check if the columns are grouped.

The first minus sign refers to the first group – Columns B, C, and D. The second minus sign refers to the second group – Columns B and C.

You can collapse and expand any group you like. 

For instance, you could collapse both groups when you’re ready  to order, i.e., when you need only the color column. 

You could expand the first group and collapse the second group to get the phone number as well. 

You can also expand both groups to view all the columns. 

The first minus sign always indicates the biggest group, followed by the next biggest group, and so on. 


Ungrouping columns in Google Sheets

Google Sheets also allows you to ungroup already grouped columns. Ungrouping columns is similar to grouping columns. 

Step 1: Select the grouped columns.

Identify the grouped columns you want to ungroup. 

Step 2: Right-click and select Ungroup Columns.

After selecting the grouped columns, right-click and select Ungroup Columns B-C. 

B-C will be replaced with the range of columns you have selected. 

Step 3: Check if the columns have been ungrouped.

After clicking Ungroup Columns, you’ll see the minus sign disappear. It is an indication that you have successfully ungrouped the columns. 


Conclusion

No more struggling to organize your data! You can now group columns or even create a multi-layer grouping. You can expand and collapse columns with ease to view or hide data.  It will help you organize and manage your data efficiently yet easily. 

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