About the Arbitrary Column Replacer
This tool overwrites one column of a text table with new values and leaves everything else as it was. Give it the delimiter, the number of the column and the new values, either one per row from a second box or the same text for every row, and it rebuilds the table. It is useful for refreshing a column of prices, filling a status column with a fixed word, masking a private column or pasting corrected values from another source. Any delimiter works, even several characters or a tab written as \t. The splitting is exact and plain, and everything runs in your browser.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Arbitrary Column Replacer
- 1Paste your table into the left box, one row per line.
- 2Type the delimiter and the number of the column to replace, counting from 1.
- 3Choose whether the new values are one per row or the same text in every row.
- 4Type the new values in the second box.
- 5Check the result and press Copy or Download.
What replacing a column does
The values in the chosen column are swapped for new ones, row by row. All other columns, the delimiter and the order of rows stay the same. That makes it a precise tool for updating one field of an export, whether you have a fresh list of values or want a constant.
Two ways to supply values
With one value per row, the second box is read line by line and matched to the rows in order. With the same text everywhere, the box content is used for every row, which is handy to mark all rows with a status or to blank out a private field with a placeholder.
- Update prices from a new list
- Fill a status column with Done
- Mask a private column with XXXX
- Insert a corrected list pasted from a spreadsheet
Header rows
The first row is treated like any other row. If your table has a header, include a header value as the first line of the new list, or start the list with an empty line to keep the header cell empty. The example in the box shows a header replaced with a new title.
A quick example
Take rows of id, name and city separated by double colons. Replace column 3 with the lines town, Paris and Lima. The city names are swapped for the new values, and the header cell changes to town. Choose The same text in every row and type N/A, and every city becomes N/A.
Phone and computer
On a phone, paste the table into the first box and the new values into the second, then copy the result. On a computer you can also download it. Big tables work, as long as your list of new values has as many lines as you need.
Good to know
Delimiters are matched exactly and quotes are not interpreted. If your new values contain the delimiter, they will look like extra columns afterwards, so avoid that. A line break inside the same-text value is written as it is and will break the row, so keep it to one line. Replacing a column is easy to get wrong when the delimiter is unusual, so check the file first. For plain comma files, CSV Column Replacer is the simpler tool, and TSV Column Replacer does the same for tab files. Arbitrary Column Extractor pulls one column out instead of changing it.
Features
- Replace one column, with values per row or one fixed value
- Any delimiter, even several characters
- Rows beyond your list get an empty cell
- Other columns stay untouched
- Row count
- Private: nothing is uploaded
Frequently asked questions
How do I give new values for each row?
Choose One value per row and type one value on each line of the second box. The first line goes to the first row, and so on. Rows beyond your list receive an empty cell.
How do I put the same text in every row?
Choose The same text in every row and type the text in the second box.
Can I replace the last column?
Yes. Type last as the column. You can also use any column number counting from 1.
Can it replace several columns at once?
No. Replace one column at a time and run the tool again for the next.
What if the table has short rows?
The row is padded with empty cells up to the column you replace, so the new value lands in the right place.
Is my data uploaded?
No. It is processed in your browser.