Skip to main content

​
What This Node Does

The Unpivot node reshapes data from wide format (few rows, many columns) to long format (many rows, few columns) by converting column headers into row values. Use it to normalize denormalized data, prepare data for analysis tools that expect long format, or transform Excel-style reports into database-friendly structures. [SCREENSHOT: Unpivot node showing transformation from wide format (10 rows × 15 columns) to long format (150 rows × 4 columns)]

​
When to Use This Node

Use the Unpivot node when you need to:
  • Normalize spreadsheet data - Convert Excel report (columns: Jan, Feb, Mar) into normalized table
  • Prepare for visualization - Many charting tools expect long format (Category, Value)
  • Fix denormalized imports - CSV has Product_1, Product_2, Product_3 columns → Unpivot to Product, Quantity
  • Time series from columns - Convert date columns (2024-01-01, 2024-01-02…) into Date, Value rows

​
Step-by-Step Usage Guide

1

Add Unpivot node to canvas

2

Connect to input data

3

Select identifier columns

Choose columns to keep fixed (e.g., Region). These stay as-is in output.[SCREENSHOT: Identifier Columns selector]
4

Select columns to unpivot

Choose columns to convert to rows (e.g., Jan, Feb, Mar)[SCREENSHOT: Columns to Unpivot with month columns selected]
5

Name new columns

Variable Column Name: Name for column that will hold original column names (e.g., “Month”) Value Column Name: Name for column that will hold values (e.g., “Sales”)[SCREENSHOT: Configuration panel showing Month and Sales names]
6

Configure options

Set Drop NULL Values (True/False) and Value Data Type (Auto or specific type)[SCREENSHOT: Options configured]
7

Preview results

​
Tips and Best Practices

Choose Descriptive Names: Use clear Variable and Value column names (Month, Sales) instead of generic names (variable, value).
Preview Identifiers: Verify identifier columns are correct. Output row count = Input rows × Unpivoted columns.
Check Data Types: Ensure unpivoted columns have compatible types. Mixed types (text + numbers) may need conversion.
Reverse with Pivot: To reverse unpivot, use Pivot node to convert long format back to wide format.