# How to split query results in two columns? Noob

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-split-query-results-in-two-columns-noob/141949>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [July 1, 2008, 11:57pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-split-query-results-in-two-columns-noob/141949 "2008-07-01T23:57:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mex\_rails](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@mex\_rails](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mex_rails)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 11:57pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-split-query-results-in-two-columns-noob/141949/1 "2008-07-01T23:57:21Z")

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I have a big collection of items I want to display two columns of  
ordered lists. I’m pretty new to RoR, but I think there must be some  
way to do this with a helper.

this is the code i want to split

\<% @items.each do |item| %\>1. \<%= item.name %\>
\<% end %\>

Thx!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mex\_rails](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@mex\_rails](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mex_rails)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-split-query-results-in-two-columns-noob/141949/2 "2008-07-02T00:00:52Z")

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> 

> **[\#28 in\_groups\_of - RailsCasts](http://railscasts.com/episodes/28-in-groups-of)**
>
> Short Ruby on Rails screencasts containing tips, tricks and tutorials. Great for both novice and experienced web developers.

Quoting…

in\_groups\_of  
Have you ever wanted to visually line up items in rows and columns?  
The in\_groups\_of method makes this a cinch.

\<% @tasks.in\_groups\_of(4, false) do |row\_tasks| %\> \<% for task in row\_tasks %\> \<% end %\> \<% end %\>

| \<%= task.name %\> |

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mex\_rails](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@mex\_rails](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mex_rails)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 5:19am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-split-query-results-in-two-columns-noob/141949/3 "2008-07-02T05:19:41Z")

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Philip H. wrote:

> > 
> 
> [http://railscasts.com/episodes/28](http://railscasts.com/episodes/28)
> 
> Quoting…
> 
> in\_groups\_of  
> Have you ever wanted to visually line up items in rows and columns?  
> The in\_groups\_of method makes this a cinch.

The only problem with in\_groups\_of is that the ordering goes horizontal.  
If you are looking for vertical ordering, read this thread

[http://www.ruby-forum.com/topic/137230](http://www.ruby-forum.com/topic/137230)

Peace,  
Phillip