Horizontally stack column arrays

Question

I eventually want to be able to extract a subset of columns from a formally defined table.  I can then use that subset wherever an array or range argument is needed.  It would look something like:

   { myTable[FirstField], myTable[ThirdField], myTable[FifthField] }

where the braces delimit an array.  If column arrays cannot be abbutted side-by-side, for some reason, then I planned to transpose them into rows, stack them, then transpose back.

Being new to array formulas and array notation in general, I started small.  This array formula works, if I select the right sized range of cells (2 high, 3 wide):

   ={ TRANSPOSE({1;2;3}) ,  TRANSPOSE({1;2;3}) }

However, these doesn't:

   = TRANSPOSE( TRANSPOSE( { 1,2,3 ; 4,5,6 } ) )

   = { TRANSPOSE({1,2,3}) , TRANSPOSE({4,5,6} ) }

   = { {1,2,3} ; {4,5,6} }

It seems that when you are building an array using curly braces, the elements within those braces cannot be arrays themselves.

Is there a good way to horizontally stack column arrays, without having to delve into VBA?

I guess the same question can be asked about vertically stacking row arrays.  But my immediate interest is in the former.

Answer 1

No, there isn't. You may want to use VBA for that.

Answer 2

It seems that when you are building an array using curly braces, the elements within those braces cannot be arrays themselves.

That is correct.

Answer 3

OK, thanks.  :(

Answer 4

Thanks for clarifying.  Somehow, I don't think there's a simple way to do what I was asking :(  .