How can I turn a list of comma separated values into an array?

Question

If I have a formula:

={1,2,3,4,5}

I get a 5 column set of numbers with 1 in the first, 2 in the next and so on.

However, if I have a cell that contains the string 1,2,3,4,5 in cell E2 and I try

={E2} 

I get the same result as if I did =E2 - a single cell with comma separated values.

Is there a function in Google Sheets that says, "treat the argument as if it were typed at this point?

Answer 1

• instead ={E2} use SPLIT formula like:

  =SPLIT(E2; ",")

  

• also, you can do it directly by pressing LEFT ALT + D + E