# Write an array column (via Lookup) to Google sheet
**URL:** https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062
**Category:** Report a Bug
**Created:** [July 24, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062 "2020-07-24T20:13:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Mark](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Mark)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2020, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062/26 "2020-07-31T19:55:36Z")
> [@gvalero](#):
>
> - Create many columns as items/dishes a menu has (static schema). I mean, if a menu has 8 items we must have 8 columns to make the “join texts” column works using any combination but what if the menu has 12 items tomorrow? … we must create 4 new columns manually to get your idea works again!..
The “Join” computed column would operate on an array column. It takes one column as input, namely the array.
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### Author:  [@gvalero](https://community.glideapps.com/u/gvalero)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062/27 "2020-07-31T20:28:44Z")
what you call **“Join” computed column** is a Template column?
Let me understand you step by step with basic questions to be happy 😃
Saludos @Mark
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### Author:  [@Mark](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Mark)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2020, 8:32pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062/28 "2020-07-31T20:32:05Z")
It’s not a Template column - the Template column already exists.
It’s somewhat similar to a Rollup. You would give it your `LK_ListaPlatosPedidos` column, and tell it to use a newline to join it. Then for each row it would produce a single text that has all the items in the `LK_ListaPlatosPedidos`, one line for each. That’s exactly what you want to write to the sheet, right?
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### Author:  [@gvalero](https://community.glideapps.com/u/gvalero)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2020, 8:40pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062/29 "2020-07-31T20:40:03Z")
yes Mark!
My _LK\_ListaPlatosPedidos_ column (lookup) is what I want to use and write to GS.
Another question: your **“Join” computed column** is something new in Glide or what?
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### Author:  [@Mark](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Mark)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2020, 9:43pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062/30 "2020-07-31T21:43:21Z")
No, it doesn’t exist yet, I’m just brainstorming a solution.
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### Author:  [@Wiz.Wazeer](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Wiz.Wazeer)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2020, 11:11pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062/31 "2020-07-31T23:11:33Z")
I think Our dream coming true, soon. 😊🚀
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### Author:  [@gvalero](https://community.glideapps.com/u/gvalero)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062/32 "2020-08-01T16:44:25Z")
but the solution is close @Mark!! (well, depending on of effort to make changes in Glide code). Here my 2 cents:
1. To allow a Template column to work with Lookup (single or multiple relations). I know the blank spaces inside array can generate a headache (e.g: Red, , Green, , , Blue , , ) to understand/handle the result but if those spaces can be eliminated we could have a clean list ready to work in anywhere (Red,Green, Blue)
1. As I wrote days ago, an array column with multiple values can’t be used with a Template, Math or IF-Then-Else tool and this is understandable but why can’t it be written to GS using a Form’s column?
If you remove the restriction that forbids to use a multiple relation lookup with a column in a Form component, the solution is almost done!.
It’s is my favorite option!
What do you think Mark?
Saludos y feliz fin de semana!
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### Author:  [@Mark](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Mark)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2020, 5:23pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062/33 "2020-08-01T17:23:48Z")
You can try out Join Texts on our staging instance.
It works very much like a Rollup, but you can also specify a separator. If you use just a newline as the separator you won’t see it in the Data Editor, but it’ll be there if you save the column to a sheet.
Writing the array column to the spreadsheet is not just a “restriction” we can remove. Google Sheets don’t support arrays, so we’d have to decide how to write them. For example, how to separate individual values, which Join Texts lets you do 😉
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### Author:  [@gvalero](https://community.glideapps.com/u/gvalero)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2020, 6:06pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062/34 "2020-08-01T18:06:29Z")
Well, it looks fantastic and if I can use a newline as the separator, it looks even better!!!
When may I celebrate with a party? How long do I have to wait to have it in production? 🥳
Gracias @Mark
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### Author:  [@Mark](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Mark)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2020, 6:08pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062/35 "2020-08-01T18:08:07Z")
I can’t make any promises. I hope sometime next week.
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### Author:  [@Robert\_Petitto](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Robert_Petitto)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062/36 "2020-08-01T20:28:36Z")
Oh my goodness. This is awesome.
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### Author:  [@Robert\_Petitto](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Robert_Petitto)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2020, 8:30pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062/37 "2020-08-01T20:30:19Z")
Can we also build in rank/sort as part of the array to make sure the names are joined in some organized fashion?
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### Author:  [@Jeff\_Hager](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Jeff_Hager)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2020, 3:28am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062/38 "2020-08-02T03:28:03Z")
I 100% have a use for this. Looking forward to it. Thank you!
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### Author:  [@Robert\_Petitto](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Robert_Petitto)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2020, 4:09am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062/39 "2020-08-02T04:09:08Z")
Hey @Mark…Would it be difficult to build the reverse join (ie “split”)? I have a column of comma separated values in a single cell, but I need Glide to recognize it as an array column. Thoughts?
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### Author:  [@Mark](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Mark)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2020, 2:04pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062/40 "2020-08-02T14:04:04Z")
@Robert_Petitto Could you describe the exact use case, please? Where do those comma separated values come from, and what do you want to do with them once they’re split?
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### Author:  [@Robert\_Petitto](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Robert_Petitto)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2020, 2:54pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062/41 "2020-08-02T14:54:27Z")
Sure thing!
Currently, three scenarios from which they’re created:
1.) from a transposed concatenation of rows
2.) from a many-to-many export from an external database (eg Airtable)
3.) from a checklist question in Google forms
I want to be able to create relations using these comma separated values. This can only be done using an array column—otherwise the cell wouldn’t find a match.
Example: a comma separated list of Item Ids. I want to relate each ID to its respective details page. I can’t simple create a relation from the Comma separated list in the cell to the sheet.
Currently, I have to first split the values into their own columns using a `=SPLIT()` formula and then manually create each column header as item\_id 1… item\_id 2…etc. While this works, it’s not dynamic as I have to ensure there’s a column header for each column whenever a new value is added to the comma separated list.
A Split-to-Array Column would solve these issues. Either that or “simply” allow a comma separated list in a cell to be recognized as an array column? Just like how timestamps/dates and number columns can be formatted…allowing us to mark whether a comma separated list should be an array column? Just thinking out loud.
As always, appreciate all the work and innovation you bring!
Bob
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### Author:  [@Mark](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Mark)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2020, 3:14pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062/42 "2020-08-02T15:14:11Z")
Do those comma separated values ever contain commas themselves? How is that handled?
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### Author:  [@Robert\_Petitto](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Robert_Petitto)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2020, 3:20pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062/43 "2020-08-02T15:20:07Z")
If they do, then that’s pretty poor formatting on the part of the data entry. I’d assume in that scenario, the user wouldn’t be looking to create an array column of the data. Take for instance a block of welcome text:
Welcome, Bob! On behalf of everyone here, we hope you have a delightful experience. Remember to watch, like, and subscribe to our YouTube channel, too!
5 commas…this is not CSV 😅
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### Author:  [@Robert\_Petitto](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Robert_Petitto)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2020, 3:22pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062/44 "2020-08-02T15:22:42Z")
Anyone else want this feature and can chime in?
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### Author:  [@gvalero](https://community.glideapps.com/u/gvalero)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2020, 4:11pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/write-an-array-column-via-lookup-to-google-sheet/13062/45 "2020-08-02T16:11:49Z")
As a matter of fact! 🤣
It will be usefull when you use a Google Form to collect data, GF has Multiple Choice as an option and the answer is saved to one cell as comma separated values. This is a smart and simple solution but try to load that data to Glide and use it later is another tale.
Thanks @Robert_Petitto for reminding me this!
Saludos!
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