changing column letters to numbers , etc.

[Gerrie]

aI see the posts concerning how to change column heading to numbers, etc.
However, I would like to know how this happens because, if I open a new
spreadsheet, sometimes I get numbers and sometimes I get letters. Also, when
someone sends me a spreadsheet with numbers and I want letters and they have
calculations, can I can to letters and will the calculations change
automatically or how will they be affected. HELP!

 

[Mike H]

Hi,

It changes on its own because Excel remembers the setting from the first
workbook opened in that session. Change between settings won't affect the
result of calculations, only the way you see the formula.

Mike

 

[Kevin B]

Click TOOLS in the menu and select OPTIONS. In the OPTIONS dialog box, click
the GENERAL tab and either remove the check from R1C1 reference style to
display column letters or add a check to the R1C1 reference style to view
column numbers.

This has no impact on your formulas other than how the ranges are displayed.
R1C1 and A1 notations are equivalent.

 

[Niek Otten]

<R1C1 and A1 notations are equivalent.>

Well, almost.

If you developed your workbook using R1C1 reference style and then want to use it in A1 style, Excel may detect names like A1 and
ask you whether you want to change those. If you confirm, it does and it also changes all formulas where those names are
referenced. But not references in INDIRECT() functions.
R1C1 style references in INDIRECT() functions can also cause problems if the file is loaded into another language version of
Excel.

Indeed in most cases the reference styles are equivalent, but the few cases where they are not can be very annoying, confusing and
time consuming.

--
Kind regards,

Niek Otten
Microsoft MVP - Excel


| Click TOOLS in the menu and select OPTIONS. In the OPTIONS dialog box, click
| the GENERAL tab and either remove the check from R1C1 reference style to
| display column letters or add a check to the R1C1 reference style to view
| column numbers.
|
| This has no impact on your formulas other than how the ranges are displayed.
| R1C1 and A1 notations are equivalent.
| --
| Kevin Backmann
|
|
| "Gerrie" wrote:
|
| > aI see the posts concerning how to change column heading to numbers, etc.
| > However, I would like to know how this happens because, if I open a new
| > spreadsheet, sometimes I get numbers and sometimes I get letters. Also, when
| > someone sends me a spreadsheet with numbers and I want letters and they have
| > calculations, can I can to letters and will the calculations change
| > automatically or how will they be affected. HELP!
| > --
| > Thanks for any help you can give me.