---
title: "melt-function-to-tidy-data"
slug: "melt-function-to-tidy-data"
updated: 2023-10-14T08:28:08Z
published: 2023-10-14T08:28:09Z
canonical: "userguide.dataclassroom.com/melt-function-to-tidy-data"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://userguide.dataclassroom.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# The Melt function for converting to Tidy Data

If you've read the [article on Tidy Data format](/v1/docs/converting-data-to-tidy-format), or you already know you want to convert a dataset from **Wide** into **Long** format, the **Melt** function is for you. Here is a run-through of an example.

You can open the example [**wide-format dataset here**](https://dataclassroom.com/en/dataseteditor/d13546a2-d0e4-469f-9ece-e59d223354dc/). The **Melt** function is under **Advanced** in the left menu**:**

![](https://cdn.document360.io/62f8f41e-e041-42c4-b9bc-8ae1eb45d064/Images/Documentation/image-1697200214387.png)

### Step 1: Tell DataClassroom which columns to combine

![](https://cdn.document360.io/62f8f41e-e041-42c4-b9bc-8ae1eb45d064/Images/Documentation/image-1697200373230.png)

### Step 2: Name the columns you are about to create

This is naming the variables that will be usable for analysis once the data is in Tidy, or Long, format.

### ![](https://cdn.document360.io/62f8f41e-e041-42c4-b9bc-8ae1eb45d064/Images/Documentation/image-1697200647226.png)Step 3: Click the Convert button...

The conversion is now complete. Have a good look at the new format of your table, and make sure you understand what happened. You can always go back with the Undo function.

Your new **categorical** column can be used in graphing and analysis in order to separate data into groups for comparison or visualization.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/62f8f41e-e041-42c4-b9bc-8ae1eb45d064/Images/Documentation/image-1697200727828.png)