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Excel WRAPCOLS Function: Turn Long Lists into Multi‑Column Layouts

WRAPCOLS converts a single row or single column into a neat, multi‑column grid by filling down first, then moving right. It’s the column‑oriented sibling of WRAPROWS. If a vector is too long to present in one strip, WRAPCOLS reshapes it into a compact block that updates automatically as the source changes. The syntax is =WRAPCOLS(vector, wrap_count, [pad_with]). The vector is a one‑dimensional range or array. The wrap_count sets how many items appear in each output column before a new column begins. The optional pad_with fills any empty cells when the last column isn’t full; by default, Excel pads with #N/A so you can see boundaries during build‑out. Microsoft’s reference describes the behavior crisply and notes this is a dynamic array function available in Microsoft 365 and Excel for the web.

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Excel WRAPROWS Function: Reshape Long Lists into Report-Ready Grids

WRAPROWS takes a one‑dimensional list and reshapes it into a two‑dimensional array by wrapping values across rows after a set count. If a column or row is too long for presentation, WRAPROWS converts it into a compact grid without helper formulas or manual copy‑paste. The syntax is =WRAPROWS(vector, wrap_count, [pad_with]). The vector is the single row or single column to reshape. The wrap_count sets how many items appear in each output row before a new row begins. The optional pad_with fills any empty cells in the last row when the list length is not a perfect multiple of the wrap size. Microsoft’s function reference describes WRAPROWS succinctly and emphasizes that it is part of the modern dynamic array family in Excel for Microsoft 365 and the web. It returns a spill range that updates as the source vector grows or shrinks, which makes it ideal for dashboards, catalogs, menus, and side‑by‑side comparison layouts that need predictable dimensions from variable lists.

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Excel VSTACK Function: Stack Data Vertically with Dynamic Spill

The VSTACK function combines multiple ranges or arrays by stacking them one beneath another, returning a single dynamic spill that expands or contracts as the sources change. If HSTACK builds side‑by‑side panels, VSTACK is its vertical counterpart for building long, tidy tables from separate blocks. The syntax is straightforward: =VSTACK(array1, [array2], …). Each subsequent array is appended to the bottom of the previous one, creating one continuous spill range that can be formatted, charted, or fed into downstream formulas without copy‑paste or helper sheets.

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Excel HSTACK Function: Combine Arrays Side‑by‑Side with Dynamic Spill

The HSTACK function appends ranges and arrays horizontally in one step, returning a single dynamic spill range that expands or contracts as sources change. If VSTACK is the vertical stacker, HSTACK is its horizontal twin, designed to line up multiple lists or tables next to each other without helper columns, copy‑paste, or manual resizing. The syntax is simple: =HSTACK(array1, [array2], …). Each subsequent array is placed to the right of the previous one, and the result spills into as many columns as needed. Microsoft’s function reference notes that HSTACK’s row count equals the maximum number of rows among the inputs, while the column count equals the sum of all input columns, with shorter arrays padded to match the tallest input. This behavior makes it ideal for consolidating period columns, stitching lookup results beside IDs, or building side‑by‑side comparison panels that stay in sync with source changes.

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Excel EXPAND Function: Resize and Pad Arrays Like a Pro

The EXPAND function lets Excel 365 users resize a returned array to exact dimensions and fill added cells with a value of choice. Think of EXPAND as the missing piece when building report‑ready ranges from dynamic arrays. It takes a source array, returns a version with the exact number of rows and columns specified, and pads any new cells with either a custom value or the default error. This makes it ideal for standardizing array sizes for charts, dashboards, and exports. According to Microsoft’s documentation, the syntax is =EXPAND(array, rows, [columns], [pad_with]) and it will return #VALUE if rows or columns are smaller than the source, and #N/A in padded cells if pad_with is omitted. It’s part of the dynamic array family and available to Microsoft 365 users on Windows, Mac, and the web as of recent builds.

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