google spreadsheet - split() function skips blanks -

in a1 cell have a,b,c,,e. want split cell 5 cells: a , b, c, , e

this formula =split(a1,",") splits 4 cells a, b, c, e , skips on blank.

how tell split "properly"?

i don't think can specify directly, though here workaround:

1. add delimiter character string. replace , ,|
2. now when split ,, know sure empty columns have character (in case |)
3. use replace substitute delimiter | blank string
4. since output of split array, need use arrayformula

here final formula like

=arrayformula(substitute(split(substitute(a1,",",",|"),","), "|",""))