Google-sheets – Count number of line breaks in Google Sheets cell

Based on http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/docs/formatting/-uEh3jguVu0 you can " copy the info single cell by single cell and paste the information in edit mode of the receiving cell; i,e. double-click the cell first before you paste the single cell contents". Though this is hardly 'easy' so there may be a better answer out there...

Use a custom function.

Code

function result(range) {
  var splitCol = 1; // split on column B
  var output2 = [];
  for(var i=0, iLen=range.length; i<iLen; i++) {
    var s = range[i][splitCol].split("\n");    
    for(var j=0, jLen=s.length; j<jLen; j++) {
      var output1 = []; 
      for(var k=0, kLen=range[0].length; k<kLen; k++) {
        if(k == splitCol) {
          output1.push(s[j]);
        } else {
          output1.push(range[i][k]);
        }
      }
      output2.push(output1);
    }    
  }
  return output2;
}

Explanation

The script evaluates each row, and particularly the second column of each row (in JavaScript arrays are zero based, so column 2 corresponds to index 1 of the array). It splits the contents of that cell, into multiple values and uses the "\n" as delimiter (line feed). After that it adds the existing info to an array and only add the individual results, when it hits index 1 (k == 1). The newly prepared row is then added to another array, that's being returned to show the result.

Screenshot

data

result

Example

I've created an example file for you: multi-line cells into new rows.

• Add the script under Tools > Script editor.
• Save the script, the name doesn't matter.
• Use the custom function in a cell just like a built in (see the screenshot above).