TOCOL Function in Google Sheets: Syntax, Examples & Compatibility
Learn how to convert any rectangular table into a single column with optional blank handling in Google Sheets. Includes syntax, two verified-by-reasoning results, troubleshooting and portability notes.
Verification status: Official documentation referenced; example outcomes independently reasoned or arithmetically checked where stated. Not executed in Google Sheets. How formula examples are checked
Quick answer: convert any rectangular table into a single column with optional blank handling in Google Sheets. The reproducible examples below use explicit values so the formula’s meaning is testable without a large workbook.
Evidence: The function name and syntax are documented in the linked vendor function reference. Expected outputs were independently reasoned or checked outside the application. These are not native Google Sheets test results. A guide being published here does not certify every software release or file-import scenario.
Syntax and arguments
=TOCOL(array_or_range, [ignore], [scan_by_column])
ignore controls blank/error treatment; the optional scan switch selects row-wise or column-wise order.
Best use case: Convert any rectangular table into a single column with optional blank handling.
Set up the example sheet
Use the values A2=Pen, B2=12, A3=Pad, B3=5. Think of the original two-column range as one small table.
Enter the formula in an unused cell. For a formula returning several values, leave an unobstructed area where those values can expand. These formulas use comma argument separators in a typical English-language locale; commas or semicolons inside quoted text are data, not argument separators. Adapt the separator if your regional settings require it.
Worked example 1: TOCOL with known input
=TOCOL(A2:B3,0,FALSE)
Expected output: one column Pen, 12, Pad, 5.
FALSE scans each row before moving down to the next one.
Worked example 2: a second TOCOL case
=TOCOL(A2:B3,0,TRUE)
Expected output: one column Pen, Pad, 12, 5.
TRUE scans the first source column completely before the second.
Compare both results before replacing literal values or short sample ranges with your own workbook data. For a spilling formula, compare every output cell, not only the top-left result.
Practical advice and troubleshooting
When this formula helps: TOCOL is useful before UNIQUE, FILTER or a pivot-ready export when you need all source values in one list.
Important edge case: The default handling of blanks may matter in sparse tables. Set the ignore argument deliberately.
If the result differs, first verify the text-versus-number types of the input cells, the argument separators for your locale, and the range size. For dynamic arrays, inspect occupied cells in the output area. An error that looks like a missing function may reflect a software version rather than incorrect data.
Compatibility and version considerations
Excel also has TOCOL in modern releases, but it is not necessarily available in older versions or alternative office suites.
Check your installed release for availability and dynamic-array support.
Function availability and parameter behavior must be judged for the specific application and release; a function documented in one spreadsheet does not automatically work in another.
Related guides and official documentation
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Google Sheets documentation for TOCOL — function syntax and current vendor information.
Editorial verification: Vendor catalogue referenced as of 2026-10-12. The two example outputs are independently reasoned; no native application run, screenshot, or version-specific output is claimed. Review the editorial testing standards if you require stronger proof before importing a workbook.