excelmatrixpivot-tableunpivotpowerquery

Convert matrix to 3-column table ('reverse pivot', 'unpivot', 'flatten', 'normalize')

I need to convert the Excel matrix FIRST in the table LATER:

FIRST:

    P1  P2  P3  P4
F1  X
F2  X   X
F3      X       X
F4      X   X

LATER:

F   P   VALUE
F1  P1  X
F1  P2
F1  P3
F1  P4
F2  P1  X
F2  P2  X
F2  P3
F2  P4
F3  P1
F3  P2  X
F3  P3
F3  P4  X
F4  P1
F4  P2  X
F4  P3  X
F4  P4
Solution

  • To “reverse pivot”, “unpivot” or “flatten”:

    1. For Excel 2003: Activate any cell in your summary table and choose Data - PivotTable and PivotChart Report:

      SO20541905 first example

    For later versions access the Wizard with Alt+D, P.

    For Excel for Mac 2011, it's ⌘+Alt+P (See here).

    1. Select Multiple consolidation ranges and click Next.

      SO20541905 second example

    2. In “Step 2a of 3”, choose I will create the page fields and click Next.

      SO20541905 third example

    3. In “Step 2b of 3” specify your summary table range in the Range field (A1:E5 for the sample data) and click Add, then Next.

      SO20541905 fourth example

    4. In “Step 3 of 3”, select a location for the pivot table (the existing sheet should serve, as the PT is only required temporarily):

      SO20541905 fifth example

    5. Click Finish to create the pivot table:

      SO20541905 sixth example

    6. Drill down (ie double-click) on the intersect of the Grand Totals (here Cell V7 or 7):

      SO20541905 seventh example

    7. The PT may now be deleted.

    8. The resulting Table may be converted to a conventional array of cells by selecting Table in the Quick Menu (right-click in the Table) and Convert to Range.

    There is a video on the same subject at Launch Excel which I consider excellent quality.