Columns Sheet Operations

The Columns Sheet (Shift+C) is a regular VisiData sheet where each row represents one column from your source sheet. This means all the selection, editing, and movement keys you already know work here too — but they operate on column metadata instead of row data.

Learning Focus

The Columns Sheet excels at bulk operations: set types on 10 columns at once, hide internal columns, or set the same aggregator on multiple numeric columns in one step.

Opening the Columns Sheet

Shift+C    # opens Columns Sheet — each row = one column from the source sheet

Columns Sheet columns:

Column	Description
name	Column name (editable)
width	Display width in characters
type	Column type (str, int, float, currency, date, len)
key	Whether it is a key column (!)
aggregator	Aggregator for pivot/frequency (sum, mean, etc.)
expr	Python expression (for derived columns)

Navigating and Returning

Enter      # jump to that column in the source sheet
q          # return to the source sheet

Editing a Single Property (e)

e          # edit the cell under cursor

# Rename a column
# Move to its 'name' cell
e
# Type new name → Enter

# Change width
# Move to its 'width' cell
e
# Type new width → Enter

# Set type by typing the name
# Move to its 'type' cell
e
# Type: int → Enter

Bulk Operations

Select rows first, then apply an action to all selected column rows.

Selecting Rows

s          # select the current row (column)
gs         # select all rows
|          # regex select rows by column name pattern
# Enter: salary|amount|cost

Bulk Set Type

g~         # set type = str for selected columns
g#         # set type = int for selected columns
g%         # set type = float for selected columns
g$         # set type = currency for selected columns
g@         # set type = date for selected columns
gz#        # set type = len for selected columns

# Select all numeric columns
|
# Enter: salary|amount|cost

# Set all to float
g%

q          # return to source — all are now float

Bulk Toggle Key Columns

g!         # toggle key status for selected columns
gz!        # remove key for selected columns

# Select identifier columns
|
# Enter: id|name|hostname

# Mark all as key columns
g!

q          # return to source — marked columns are now blue

Bulk Set Aggregator

g+ <aggregator>    # set aggregator for selected columns

# Select all numeric columns
|
# Enter: salary|amount|cost|price

# Set mean for all
g+ mean

q          # return to source
# Open pivot: Shift+W → shows mean per group

Bulk Hide Columns

g-         # hide selected columns (sets width to 0)

# Select metadata columns
|
# Enter: created_at|updated_at|internal_ref

# Hide them
g-

q          # return to source — they are gone from view

# To show them again (from source sheet):
gv

Delete, Copy, Paste Columns

d          # delete the current column row (removes column from source)
Y          # yank (copy) the current column row
gY         # yank all selected column rows
gP         # paste yanked column(s) back

# Delete a column
# Move to its row
d

# Copy a column
Y

# Paste it back (appears at bottom of Columns Sheet)
gP
# Then use J/K to move it into position

Reorder Columns

In the Columns Sheet, moving a row up/down moves the corresponding column left/right in the source sheet.

J          # slide current row down (moves column right in source)
K          # slide current row up (moves column left in source)
gJ         # move row to bottom (column to far right)
gK         # move row to top (column to far left)

Practical Use Cases

Retype All Numeric Columns at Once

Shift+C
|
# Enter: salary|years_experience|department_id
g#

q
# Verify: sort by salary now works numerically

Set Aggregators Before a Pivot

Shift+C
# Select salary row → s
g+ mean

# Select headcount rows → s
g+ count

q

# Move to 'department' → !
Shift+W
# Pivot shows mean salary and count per department

Hide Internal/Metadata Columns

Shift+C
|
# Enter: created_at|updated_at|internal_ref
g-

q
# Clean view with only business columns

Quick Reference

Key	Action
Shift+C	Open Columns Sheet
e	Edit current cell
Enter	Jump to column in source sheet
q	Return to source sheet
s	Select current row
gs	Select all rows
|	Regex select rows by column name
g!	Toggle key for selected columns
gz!	Remove key for selected columns
g~	Set type str for selected
g#	Set type int for selected
g%	Set type float for selected
g$	Set type currency for selected
g@	Set type date for selected
gz#	Set type len for selected
g+ <agg>	Set aggregator for selected
g-	Hide selected columns
d	Delete selected columns
Y	Yank current column row
gY	Yank selected column rows
gP	Paste yanked columns
J	Move row down (column right in source)
K	Move row up (column left in source)
gK	Move to top (far left in source)
gJ	Move to bottom (far right in source)

What's Next

• Aggregators — detailed aggregator reference
• Frequency Tables — analyze by column groups