Shuffle Text Columns

Need to randomize the order of columns in your data? The Shuffle Text Columns tool reorders words or data fields within each line while keeping the line structure intact. Perfect for shuffling CSV columns, randomizing spreadsheet data, or mixing up structured text content. This browser-based tool handles any delimiter and offers flexible shuffling options for different data formats.

How to Use:

1. Enter your text data
   • Type or paste structured text into the input area
   • Import CSV, TSV, or other delimited files using Choose File
   • Text processes automatically as you make changes
2. Configure column settings
   • Set your column delimiter (comma, tab, pipe, etc.)
   • Toggle “Preserve headers” to keep the first line unchanged
   • Enable “Skip empty lines” to ignore blank rows
   • Use “Trim columns” to remove extra spaces
3. Choose shuffle patterns
   • Select “All rows” to shuffle columns in every line
   • Pick “Data rows only” to keep headers fixed but shuffle data
   • Choose “Random per row” for different patterns on each line
   • Enable “Same pattern” to apply identical shuffling across rows
4. Generate and export results
   • Click Shuffle for new random arrangements
   • Copy output directly to clipboard
   • Export as downloadable files
   • Use Maximize output for better viewing of large datasets

What Shuffle Text Columns Can Do:

This tool provides flexible column randomization for structured data with multiple processing modes and delimiter support. All rows mode shuffles every line including headers, perfect for completely randomizing data structure. Data rows only mode preserves headers while shuffling the actual data content, ideal for maintaining column names in spreadsheets. Random per row mode creates unique shuffle patterns for each line, useful for maximum randomization.

The same pattern toggle ensures consistent column ordering across all rows. When enabled with preserve headers, it shuffles data columns the same way in every row while keeping headers intact. This maintains data relationships while creating a uniform new column arrangement.

Column delimiter support handles various file formats including CSV (comma), TSV (tab), pipe-delimited, and custom separators. The tool automatically detects and maintains the original delimiter in the output, ensuring compatibility with spreadsheet applications and databases.

Header preservation keeps the first line unchanged, treating it as column names or labels. This is essential when working with datasets that have descriptive headers. Skip empty lines ignores blank rows during processing, preventing empty shuffles that could disrupt data formatting.

Example:

Input (CSV data):

Name,Age,City,Country
John,25,New York,USA
Maria,30,London,UK
Takeshi,28,Tokyo,Japan

Output (with headers preserved):

Name,Age,City,Country
30,Maria,UK,London
28,Takeshi,Japan,Tokyo
25,John,USA,New York

Output (random per row):

Name,Age,City,Country
USA,25,John,New York
London,UK,Maria,30
Japan,Tokyo,28,Takeshi

Shuffle Text Columns Table:

This table shows different shuffle patterns and their effects on structured data.

Common Use Cases:

Data analysts and researchers use this tool to randomize survey data columns for anonymization and bias reduction in statistical analysis. Spreadsheet users apply it to shuffle product catalogs, inventory lists, and customer data for testing and validation purposes. Database administrators utilize it to create randomized test datasets while maintaining referential integrity through consistent column patterns. Content creators and educators employ it to mix up quiz questions, vocabulary lists, and structured learning materials for varied presentation formats.