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Cause: The default cell reference style (A1), which refers to columns as letters and refers to rows as numbers, was changed.
Solution: Clear the R1C1 reference style selection in Excel preferences.
Difference between A1 and R1C1 reference styles
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On the Excel menu, click Preferences.
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Under Authoring, click Calculation
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Clear the Use R1C1 reference style check box.
The column headings now show A, B, and C, instead of 1, 2, 3, and so on.
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This Excel tutorial explains how to change column headings from numbers (1, 2, 3, 4) back to letters (A, B, C, D) in Excel 2016 (with screenshots and step-by-step instructions).
Question: In Microsoft Excel 2016, my Excel spreadsheet has numbers for both rows and columns. How do I change the column headings back to letters such as A, B, C, D?
Answer: Traditionally, column headings are represented by letters such as A, B, C, D. If your spreadsheet shows the columns as numbers, you can change the headings back to letters with a few easy steps.
In the example below, the column headings are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 instead of the traditional A, B, C, D values that you normally see in Excel. When the column headings are numeric values, R1C1 reference style is being displayed in the spreadsheet.
To change the column headings to letters, select the File tab in the toolbar at the top of the screen and then click on Options at the bottom of the menu.
When the Excel Options window appears, click on the Formulas option on the left. Then uncheck the option called «R1C1 reference style» and click on the OK button.
Now when you return to your spreadsheet, the column headings should be letters (A, B, C, D) instead of numbers (1, 2, 3, 4).
Topics Map > OS and Desktop Applications > Applications > Productivity
Microsoft Excel can be configured to display column labels as numbers instead of letters. This feature is called «R1C1 Reference Style«, and though it can be useful, it can also be confusing if inadvertently enabled.
This document contains instructions for disabling the «R1C1 Reference Style» feature in the following versions of Microsoft Office:
Office 2008/2011 (Mac)
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Click on the Excel menu at the top of the screen and select Preferences.
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Click on General.
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Uncheck R1C1 Reference Style.
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Click OK at the bottom.
Office 2010/2013 (Win)
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Click on the File tab at the top of the screen and select Options.
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Click Formulas.
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Uncheck R1C1 Reference Style.
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Click OK at the bottom of the window.
Office 2007 (Win)
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Click on the Office button in the top left hand corner.
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Click on Excel Options.
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Select the Formulas tab on the left.
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Uncheck R1C1 Reference Style.
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Click OK at the bottom.
Office 2003 (Win)
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Click on the Tools menu.
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Choose Options.
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Click on the General tab.
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Uncheck R1C1 Reference Style.
| Keywords: | excel xp 2001 2002 2003 2007 2008 column label number letter r1c1 format display header reference Suggest keywords | Doc ID: | 781 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner: | Help Desk KB Team . | Group: | DoIT Help Desk |
| Created: | 2000-11-21 19:00 CDT | Updated: | 2022-08-02 13:18 CDT |
| Sites: | DoIT Help Desk, New Mexico State University, University of Illinois Unified, UW Oshkosh | ||
| Feedback: | 12 2 Comment Suggest a new document |
Have you ever opened an Excel workbook and found that the column headings show numbers instead of letters? The formula look strange too, showing references like RC[-1] instead of D2.
This is R1C1 reference style — a handy feature, and I use it sometimes when programming or setting up a workbook.
Numbers on the column headings make it easier to set up formulas that need a column number, such as VLOOKUP. I don’t have to get fingerprints on my screen, as I count across to column R, where the lookup value is.
Video: Change Excel Column Headings from Numbers to Letters
To see why this happens, and how to switch the column headings back to letters, watch this short video tutorial. The written instructions are below the video.
Your browser can’t show this frame. Here is a link to the page
Why It Happens
Maybe you’ve never heard of R1C1 reference style, and certainly didn’t change any settings. If you didn’t turn that option on, why did the numbers suddenly appear? Probably because someone sent you a workbook, and that’s the first Excel file that you opened today.
The first workbook that you open, when opening Excel, sets the reference style. For example, perhaps I built a workbook for you, and saved it while I was using R1C1 reference style.
I sent you the workbook overnight, and it was the first thing you opened this morning. Surprise! There are numbers in the column headings.
Turn R1C1 Reference Style On or Off
If you close Excel, then open a workbook that you created yourself, with letters in the column headings, that will change the reference style back to A1, which has letters in the column headings.
Or, to manually change the reference style, you can change the option setting.
In Excel 2010:
- At the left end of the Ribbon, click the File tab, then click Options.
- Click the Formulas category.
- In the Working with Formulas section, add or remove the check mark from ‘R1C1 reference style’
- Click OK to close the Options window.
In Excel 2007:
-
- At the left end of the Ribbon, click the Office Button, then click Excel Options.
- Click the Formulas category.
- In the Working with Formulas section, add or remove the check mark from ‘R1C1 reference style’
- Click OK to close the Options window.
In Excel 2003 and earlier versions:
- On the Tools menu, click Options and select the General tab.
- Add or remove the check mark from ‘R1C1 reference style’
- Click OK to close the Options dialog box.
Use a Macro to Switch Headings
If you frequently change the headings from numbers to letters, or letters to numbers, you can create a macro to do the work for you.
There are instructions in this blog post: Excel VBA: Switch Column Headings to Numbers
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Last Update: Jan 03, 2023
This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested!
Asked by: Ethan Leffler
Score: 4.2/5
(69 votes)
By default, Excel uses the A1 reference style, which refers to columns as letters (A through IV, for a total of 256 columns), and refers to rows as numbers (1 through 65,536). These letters and numbers are called row and column headings. To refer to a cell, type the column letter followed by the row number.
What are columns Labelled as in Excel?
By default, Excel uses the A1 reference style, which refers to columns as letters (A through IV, for a total of 256 columns), and refers to rows as numbers (1 through 65,536). These letters and numbers are called row and column headings. To refer to a cell, type the column letter followed by the row number.
What are columns identified by in Excel?
Columns are identified by letters (A, B, C), while rows are identified by numbers (1, 2, 3). Each cell has its own name—or cell address—based on its column and row.
Why Excel columns are numbers?
Cause: The default cell reference style (A1), which refers to columns as letters and refers to rows as numbers, was changed. Solution: Clear the R1C1 reference style selection in Excel preferences. On the Excel menu, click Preferences. … The column headings now show A, B, and C, instead of 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Which is not a function in MS Excel?
The correct answer to the question “Which one is not a function in MS Excel” is option (b). AVG. There is no function in Excel like AVG, at the time of writing, but if you mean Average, then the syntax for it is also AVERAGE and not AVG. The other two options are correct.
40 related questions found
Where is authoring in Excel?
With the file still open in Excel, make sure that AutoSave is on in the upper-left corner. When others eventually open the file, you’ll be co-authoring together. You know you’re co-authoring if you see pictures of people in the upper-right of the Excel window.
What are the columns and rows in Excel?
Key Differences
- Rows are the horizontal lines in the worksheet, and columns are the vertical lines in the worksheet.
- In the worksheet, the total rows are 10,48,576, while the total columns are 16,384.
- In the worksheet, rows are ranging from 1 to 1,048,576, while columns are ranging from A to XFD.
What is the difference between rows and columns in Excel?
Rows are a group of cells arranged horizontally to provide uniformity. Columns are a group of cells aligned vertically, and they run from top to bottom.
How do I calculate rows and columns in Excel?
If you need to sum a column or row of numbers, let Excel do the math for you. Select a cell next to the numbers you want to sum, click AutoSum on the Home tab, press Enter, and you’re done. When you click AutoSum, Excel automatically enters a formula (that uses the SUM function) to sum the numbers.
How do I make labels from columns in Excel?
- Type in a heading in the first cell of each column describing the data. Make a column for each element you want to include on the labels. Lifewire.
- Type the names and addresses or other data you’re planning to print on labels. Make sure each item is in the correct column. …
- Save the worksheet when you have finished.
What are toolbars in Excel?
Excel toolbar (also called Quick Access Toolbar. It enables users to save important shortcuts and easily access them when needed. read more) is presented to get access to various commands to perform the operations. It is presented with an option to add or delete commands to it to access them quickly.
Can’t see rows and column numbers Excel?
Step 1 — Click on «View» Tab on Excel Ribbon. Step 3 — Uncheck «Headings» checkbox to hide Excel worksheet Row and Column headings. Check «Headings» checkbox to show missing hidden Excel worksheet Row and Column headings, as explained in below image.
What is called row and column?
The vertical arrangement of objects on the basis of a category is called a column. When the objects are arranged in a horizontal manner, it is referred to as a row. … Rows are records that contain fields in DBMS. Vertical arrays in a matrix are called columns. Horizontal arrays are called rows in matrix.
What is column in Excel?
In Microsoft Excel, a column runs vertically in the grid layout of a worksheet. Vertical columns are numbered with alphabetic values such as A, B, C. … Each column in the worksheet has its own column number which is used as part of a cell reference such as A1, A2, or M16.
What is the shortcut to convert rows to columns in Excel?
How to use the macro to convert row to column
- Open the target worksheet, press Alt + F8, select the TransposeColumnsRows macro, and click Run.
- Select the range that you want to transpose and click OK:
- Select the upper left cell of the destination range and click OK:
How do I convert multiple columns to rows in Excel?
Highlight all of the columns that you want to unpivot into rows, then click on Unpivot Columns just above your data. Once you’ve clicked on Unpivot Columns, Excel will transform your columnar data into rows. Each row is a record of its own, ready to throw into a Pivot Table or work with in your datasheet.
How do you identify rows and columns?
A row is a series of data put out horizontally in a table or spreadsheet while a column is a vertical series of cells in a chart, table, or spreadsheet. Rows go across left to right. On the other hand, Columns are arranged from up to down.
Where is the Editing tab in Excel?
Click File > Options > Advanced. , click Excel Options, and then click the Advanced category. Under Editing options, do one of the following: To enable Edit mode, select the Allow editing directly in cells check box.
Where is preferences in Excel?
Choose Excel→Preferences from the menu bar to display the Preferences dialog.
How do I turn on AutoSave in Excel?
How to Turn on AutoSave in Excel
- Open Excel and select File > Options.
- In the menu that opens, select Save on the left.
- If you have a OneDrive or SharePoint account, select AutoSave OneDrive and SharePoint Online files by default on Excel.
If your Microsoft Excel application has column numbers instead of letters, then you may be wondering not only how that happened, but how you can fix it.
We get used to certain things remaining consistent in the computer applications that we use regularly, and that’s especially true of Excel.
So if you have Excel column number labels at the tops of your columns instead of letters, then you can follow our steps below to switch them back.
How to Switch Excel Column Number to Letter
- Open your spreadsheet.
- Select the File tab.
- Choose Options.
- Click the Formulas tab.
- Uncheck the R1C1 reference style box.
- Click OK.
Our guide continues below with additional information to answer the question of why are my columns in Excel numbers, including pictures of these steps.
When you refer to a cell in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, such as with a subtraction formula, you are likely accustomed to doing so by indicating the column, then the row number.
For example, the top-left cell in your spreadsheet would be cell A1. However, you might be using Excel and find that the columns are labeled with numbers instead of letters.
This can be confusing if you were not expecting it, and have not worked with this setup before.
This cell reference system is called R1C1, and is common in some fields and organizations.
However, it is just a setting in Excel 2013, and you can change it if you would prefer to use the column letters with which you are familiar.
Our guide below will show you how to turn on the R1C1 reference style so that you can go back to column letters instead of numbers.
Read our convert to number Excel guide for information on switching text to numbers in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.
How to Change Excel 2013 Column Labels from Numbers Back to Letters (Guide with Pictures)
The steps in this article assume that you are currently seeing Excel column labels as numbers instead of letters, and that you would like to switch back. Note that this setting is defined for the Excel application, meaning that it will apply to every spreadsheet that you open in the program.
Step 1: Open Excel 2013.
Step 2: Click the File tab at the top-left corner of the window.
Step 3: Click Options at the bottom of the column on the left side of the window.
Step 4: Click the Formulas tab at the left side of the Excel Options window.
Step 5: Scroll down to the Working with formulas section of the menu, then uncheck the box to the left of R1C1 reference style. Click the OK button at the bottom of the window to apply your changes.
Now that you know how to switch Excel column numbers to letters you will be able to fix this problem again in the future, should you encounter it.
You should now be returned to your spreadsheet, where the column labels should once again be letters instead of numbers.
Are you having trouble fixing the constant issues that seem to occur whenever you try to print a spreadsheet? Our Excel printing tips can provide you with some helpful pointers and settings that can make printing your data a little less frustrating.
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After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
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When you usually open Microsoft Excel and create a new workbook, you would see your well-known worksheet style: Row numbers on the left and column letters on the top of the cells. But sometimes, you would see something different: Column number instead of letters. What has happend? And how can you change it back?
This article is part of our big Excel FAQ.
Learn about all the most frequently asked questions. Or ask a questions yourself!
In a hurry? In Excel, go to File –> Options –> Formulas (on the left) and remove the check from “R1C1 reference style“.
What are column numbers in Excel?
Excel provides the option to switch from letters (=default) to numbers in the headings. If you use numbers in the headings, it’s called the “R1C1 reference style” or “Relative Notation”. It’s an older style of referencing cells.
The problem with it: Formulas look much different if you use column letters.
In some cases it could make sense to use numbers instead of letters:
- Working with VBA macros: For entering loops or cell coordinates and debugging them, the R1C1 reference style could be useful.
- If you need to count the number of columns, e.g. when using VLOOKUP.
However, in most cases you want to use column letters (this is called the “A1-Notation” style)
How to switch back column headings to letters (A, B, C)
So, how to switch from column numbers to letters?
- Go To File and click on Options.
- Select Formulas on the left hand side.
- Set the tick at “R1C1 reference style”.
Switching back from numbers to letters works the same way. Only in the last step, you have to remove the tick from “R1C1 reference style”.
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Henrik Schiffner is a freelance business consultant and software developer. He lives and works in Hamburg, Germany. Besides being an Excel enthusiast he loves photography and sports.
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In Microsoft Excel, you can reference specific cells within a
worksheet with either Excel’s default style or the R1C1 reference
style, as long as the formulas in the spreadsheet use the correct
style for that sheet. For instance, if you are working in a sheet
that uses the R1C1 reference style, typing the formula
=SUM(A1:A2) will not work.
In the R1C1 reference style, the first cell in the first row is
referred to as R1C1 (Row 1 Column 1), the second cell is referred to
as R1C2, and so on.
If you are using the default style, Excel will automatically assign
a letter and number combination to each cell. The columns are assigned
letters, and the rows are assigned numbers. Thus, the first cell in
the first row is referred to as A1, the second cell in the first row
is referred to as B1, the first cell in the second row is referred to
as A2, and so on.
To change reference styles in a worksheet:
- In Excel 2010 for Windows, from the tab, click
.In Excel 2007 for Windows, from the Office Button menu,
choose .In Excel for Mac OS X, from the menu, choose
. - In Excel 2010 and 2007 for Windows, click . In
Excel for Mac OS X, click . - Check or uncheck (Windows) or
(Mac OS X).
This is document ajdr in the Knowledge Base.
Last modified on 2018-01-18 13:09:27.