# Dropdown source from an array column **URL:** \ **Category:** Ask for Help\ **Created:** [August 28, 2022, 4:00pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/dropdown-source-from-an-array-column/47984 "2022-08-28T16:00:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hassan\_Nadeem](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/hassan_nadeem/32/72956_2.png) [@Hassan\_Nadeem](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Hassan_Nadeem)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2022, 4:00pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/dropdown-source-from-an-array-column/47984/1 "2022-08-28T16:00:29Z")
Hello Gliders, I have a sheet containing a list of books. These books I have made an array column combining 37 columns consisting of different topics. I want to now filter the list by the topic. Is there any way I can select the Array Column as the data source of dropdown? I don’t want to create a separate dropdown sheet stating all the Topics because then it will take up a lot of additional rows. ![Screenshot 2022-08-28 182034](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/glideapps/original/3X/1/4/1445b1254282e86760157683fc8ad19ff309fc8f.png) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Murphy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/darren_murphy/32/47326_2.png) [@Darren\_Murphy](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Darren_Murphy)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2022, 4:19pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/dropdown-source-from-an-array-column/47984/2 "2022-08-28T16:19:30Z")
How many items in the array? You can transpose them into a single column using the RowID → RowID Lookup → Row Index → Single Value technique, but you’ll need a helper table with at least as many rows as there are items in the array. ---
**Author:** ![Hassan\_Nadeem](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/hassan_nadeem/32/72956_2.png) [@Hassan\_Nadeem](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Hassan_Nadeem)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2022, 4:30pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/dropdown-source-from-an-array-column/47984/3 "2022-08-28T16:30:22Z")
I have a sheet of 100+ books. Each book belongs belongs to up to 37 different topics. I made an array combining all 37 columns into 1 cell. > but you’ll need a helper table with at least as many rows as there are items in the array. Are you saying if I bring all the values from array column into one column using single value, will that not take up additional rows? If I combine all the topics into one column without an array, that will be around 1300 rows. ---
**Author:** ![ThinhDinh](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/thinhdinh/32/49_2.png) [@ThinhDinh](https://community.glideapps.com/u/ThinhDinh)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2022, 12:18am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/dropdown-source-from-an-array-column/47984/4 "2022-08-29T00:18:37Z")
> [@Hassan\_Nadeem](#): > > I want to now filter the list by the topic. Is there any way I can select the Array Column as the data source of dropdown? Do you want to use the native filter or not? I assume a no? If you use a native filter in a list style then you can point that straight to the array column you have. ---
**Author:** ![Hassan\_Nadeem](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/hassan_nadeem/32/72956_2.png) [@Hassan\_Nadeem](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Hassan_Nadeem)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2022, 12:48am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/dropdown-source-from-an-array-column/47984/5 "2022-08-29T00:48:41Z")
Yes I didn’t want to use native filter, but I think using a native filter in this case would be more efficient. I just didn’t want 4 different filters on top and then a separate filter with the table like this. ![Screenshot 2022-08-29 054708](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/glideapps/original/3X/d/3/d3fd9aca9efc73faefe20d9911f50c9f4530cbe1.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![ThinhDinh](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/thinhdinh/32/49_2.png) [@ThinhDinh](https://community.glideapps.com/u/ThinhDinh)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2022, 12:58am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/dropdown-source-from-an-array-column/47984/6 "2022-08-29T00:58:45Z")
Ah that makes sense. Then you will have to use the transpose method then. ---
**Author:** ![Hassan\_Nadeem](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/hassan_nadeem/32/72956_2.png) [@Hassan\_Nadeem](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Hassan_Nadeem)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2022, 1:15am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/dropdown-source-from-an-array-column/47984/7 "2022-08-29T01:15:11Z")
Transposing the array column will be counted as extra rows right? ---
**Author:** ![ThinhDinh](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/thinhdinh/32/49_2.png) [@ThinhDinh](https://community.glideapps.com/u/ThinhDinh)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2022, 1:22am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/dropdown-source-from-an-array-column/47984/8 "2022-08-29T01:22:25Z")
Yeah, sure. But there’s no other way I think. ---
**Author:** ![Hassan\_Nadeem](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/hassan_nadeem/32/72956_2.png) [@Hassan\_Nadeem](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Hassan_Nadeem)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2022, 1:23am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/dropdown-source-from-an-array-column/47984/9 "2022-08-29T01:23:47Z")
Thanks. Native filter is the best option then. Doesn’t take up any additional rows and works best. ---
**Author:** ![ichilddev](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/ichilddev/32/45179_2.png) [@ichilddev](https://community.glideapps.com/u/ichilddev)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2022, 3:41am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/dropdown-source-from-an-array-column/47984/10 "2022-08-29T03:41:45Z")
Hi Is there a readup on how to create and manage array in glide? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Murphy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/darren_murphy/32/47326_2.png) [@Darren\_Murphy](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Darren_Murphy)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2022, 3:45am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/dropdown-source-from-an-array-column/47984/11 "2022-08-29T03:45:41Z")
[https://www.glideapps.com/docs/reference/basic-columns/array-columns](https://www.glideapps.com/docs/reference/basic-columns/array-columns) > **[Make Array Column | Glide Docs](https://www.glideapps.com/docs/automation/computed-columns/make-array-column)** > > Combine columns in your data source to create an array. For transposing an array for using in an inline list or choice component, you can refer to the below: > [@fishbaguette\_breadbasket Transpose Columns to an Inline List: The Miracle Method](https://community.glideapps.com/t/transpose-columns-to-an-inline-list-the-miracle-method/32766): > > I’m often asked how to take columns of data (say form responses) and display them in an inline list. Here’s one way to do it—the MIRACLE METHOD. [[Glide: Transpose Data Columns into an Inline List with the MIRACLE METHOD] ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-sh_Q3WbQc) There are also a number of array related plugins available: > **[Plugins | Glide](https://www.glideapps.com/plugins)** > > Extend your apps with experimental features. ---
**Author:** ![ichilddev](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/ichilddev/32/45179_2.png) [@ichilddev](https://community.glideapps.com/u/ichilddev)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2022, 6:32am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/dropdown-source-from-an-array-column/47984/12 "2022-08-29T06:32:59Z")
Awesome! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/system/32/53398_2.png) [@system](https://community.glideapps.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 6:33am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/dropdown-source-from-an-array-column/47984/13 "2022-08-30T06:33:22Z")
This topic was automatically closed 24 hours after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.