---
updatedAt: 2026-10-15T13:48:29.000Z
agentTools:
  projectIndex: https://docs.pebblestream.com/llms.txt
---

# column-oriented-headers

A **sheet-level hint** telling the extractor that the template worksheet's tables are laid out with their **headers on columns** — i.e. the tables sit _side by side_, and each record is a column.

`pebblestream:column-oriented-headers`

Without either orientation hint the extractor tries both orientations and keeps
whichever matches more of the worksheet's expected headers. Use this directive
when the template's layout is ambiguous and the automatic choice would be wrong.

## Syntax

```
pebblestream:column-oriented-headers
```

* No arguments.
* Placed on any cell of the worksheet.
* Requires [`template-name`](template-name.md) on the same worksheet.
* **Mutually exclusive** with [`row-oriented-headers`](row-oriented-headers.md).

## Example

A template with two side-by-side tables:

```text
        A          B     C     D          E     F
1   Item         Qty   Price Item         Qty   Price
2   Widget       10    2.50  Sprocket     5     4.10
3   Gadget       3     7.00  Flange       8     1.20
```

The pebble's input sheet declares:

```
pebblestream:template-name:Template
pebblestream:column-oriented-headers
```

so the extractor reads records along the columns instead of down the rows.

## Errors

| Error                                 | Cause                                                |
| ------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| `dir-too-many-args`                   | Arguments were supplied.                             |
| `incompatible-template-directives`    | `row-oriented-headers` is also present on the sheet. |
| `missing-the-template-name-directive` | The sheet has no `template-name`.                    |

## Related

* [Template directives](template-directives.md) — the extraction algorithm
* [row-oriented-headers](row-oriented-headers.md) — the opposite orientation
* [template-column](template-column.md) — record the column index of each record