A row of data is typically converted into columns when you want to rearrange or reorient the data for better readability, analysis, or presentation. This process is called "transposing" the data. It is useful in several cases:
- When formatting issues arise, and the data layout needs to be adjusted for clarity or visual appeal.
- When pivoting data for specific analysis or visualization where rows should become columns or vice versa.
- When preparing data to match report templates or formatting guidelines that require a different arrangement.
- When converting survey responses or other datasets arranged in rows into a columnar layout to facilitate easier analysis.
This conversion can be done manually or automatically in Excel and similar software by using features like the "Transpose" paste special option or the TRANSPOSE function. This changes the horizontal rows into vertical columns, effectively "rotating" the data.
