class ReportsController < ApplicationController
  def group_columns columns, items
    numitems = items.length
    rows = numitems / columns
    rows += 1 if numitems % columns > 0
    extras = numitems % rows if rows > 0

    1.upto(rows).map { |rownum|
      # distribute the extras evenly
      extra = 0
      if extras > 0
        extra = 1
        extras -= 1
      end

      row = items.shift(numitems/rows + extra)
      row + [nil] * (columns - row.length)
    }
  end
end