Gather multiple sets of columns
This approach seems pretty natural to me: df %>% gather(key, value, -id, -time) %>% extract(key, c(“question”, “loop_number”), “(Q.\\..)\\.(.)”) %>% spread(question, value) First gather all question columns, use extract() to separate into question and loop_number, then spread() question back into the columns. #> id time loop_number Q3.2 Q3.3 #> 1 1 2009-01-01 1 0.142259203 -0.35842736 #> … Read more