EXCEL-Switch Excel Column Heading To Number or Alphabets
EXCEL-Switch Excel Column Heading To Number or Alphabets
EXCEL-Switch Excel Column Heading To Number or Alphabets
Have you ever opened a workbook and found that the column headers 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.
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.
Why It Happens
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12/18/13 Excel Column Headings Show Numbers | Contextures Blog
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.
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:
1. At the left end of the Ribbon, click the File tab, then click Options.
In Excel 2007:
1. At the left end of the Ribbon, click the Office Button, then click Excel Options.
2. Click the Formulas category.
3. In the Working with Formulas section, add or remove the check mark from 'R1C1 reference style'
4. Click OK to close the Options window.
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12/18/13 Excel Column Headings Show Numbers | Contextures Blog
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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Excel VBA: Switch Change Font in 30 Excel Functions Total a Filtered List
Column Headings Excel Column in 30 Days: 30 – in Excel
to Numbers Headers INDIRECT
Linkwithin
Tara
December 13, 2011 at 9:32 pm · Reply
Debra Dalgleish
December 21, 2011 at 1:47 pm · Reply
Carmen Jones
December 21, 2011 at 12:51 pm · Reply
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12/18/13 Excel Column Headings Show Numbers | Contextures Blog
Debra Dalgleish
December 21, 2011 at 1:47 pm · Reply
@Carmen, I have updated the article to show instructions for Excel 2010. Thanks for asking!
Marney
January 13, 2012 at 12:11 pm · Reply
Thank you! My Excel 2010 had a glitch that resulted in autosaving and recovering all the files I had open.
And SURPRISE! I had the R1C1 format showing. Well, I never saw that before and my first thought was
"#$%@#$$%, my spreasheets are corrupted, ruined, etc (!)". Not a good feeling. Anyway, your site has clearly
explained it (not how it happened, but How to undo it) for which I am extremely grateful, and moreso to know nothing
is wrong with my recovered/saved files (at least not from the R1C1 designation). Thanks for putting my mind at ease
and for the very clear explanation.
M
CP
February 23, 2012 at 10:17 am · Reply
THANKS!!!!
PM
April 27, 2012 at 10:58 am · Reply
I just received a spreadsheet from someone that has icons instead of the standard column/row headers.
For example, a picture of a folder, a keyboard, a mouse, etc.
Any idea how that was done? Every article I read says it's not possible to change the headings - your blog is the
only one that even comes close the issue I'm seeing...
Debra Dalgleish
April 27, 2012 at 12:06 pm · Reply
@PM, it sounds like someone changed the Normal font to a graphic font, such as Wingdings.
There are instructions on my website for changing the Normal font in Excel.
PM
April 27, 2012 at 12:26 pm · Reply
Kathleen
June 8, 2012 at 12:38 pm · Reply
Sometimes, I get a file forwarded to me. Column titles/headers are there (LastName,
FirstName, Address, etc.), but when I want to sort from A-Z by last name, Excel alphabetizes the row
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12/18/13 Excel Column Headings Show Numbers | Contextures Blog
with the column titles as if it were a separate entry. E.g. LastName comes in under the Ls. I give the
title row bold, centered, and a different font to designate it from the other entries, but it still comes in
under the Ls. I’ve tried using the help button, but I can never find the answer I’m looking for. In the past,
I’ve just copied the format from another file. Seems it should be easier to get an answer to what I think
is a simple question. Frustrating!
Debra Dalgleish
June 8, 2012 at 1:53 pm · Reply
satya
May 10, 2012 at 11:46 am · Reply
Norman
August 15, 2012 at 4:50 pm · Reply
Hi
Spent an hour at work trying to find out why and how my spreadsheets had suddenly aquired number columns
instead of alpha, found your blog in 15 minutes and problem solved.
Many thanks
Dora
August 16, 2012 at 1:58 am · Reply
Bella
August 20, 2012 at 6:33 am · Reply
I never thought this will actually help me with this. I have been having difficulties chaging excel heading
back to letters now google has shown me a whole different world to excel....promise ill use this when facing
problems with excel sheets.
rk
August 24, 2012 at 2:10 am · Reply
Ron German
September 7, 2012 at 6:22 am · Reply
Thanks so much. I had looked at other helps before yours and none were as clear as your. Many
thanks!
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counting columbs
September 17, 2012 at 7:04 am · Reply
[...] [...]
Debra H
October 2, 2012 at 12:48 pm · Reply
nader
October 30, 2012 at 9:21 am · Reply
tnx
waterlily
November 6, 2012 at 9:36 pm · Reply
i want to change the A,B,C etc column on the top to word ID,Name,Address etc. is that possible?
Miss Trish
December 5, 2012 at 5:47 am · Reply
That is exactly what happened, thank you! I opened a file sent to me and then the next file of my own
that I had opened had number headers for the columns. All fixed and the world is as it should be!
desten
December 8, 2012 at 11:22 pm · Reply
thanks you. . .
Milad
January 9, 2013 at 6:02 am · Reply
Kong You
February 7, 2013 at 3:12 am · Reply
aron
February 21, 2013 at 6:46 pm · Reply
Sabs
February 26, 2013 at 7:23 am · Reply
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This is awesome! I was trying to crack this for more than an hour and this helpmed to click in minutes.. Thanks for
posting this.... Appreciate it..
Wayne
March 9, 2013 at 10:00 am · Reply
Hi,
after running a macro, excel inserted little picture of a worksheet and and an arrow pointing to another cell. I tried
clicking, right clicking but can get no information. What is this and what does it mean? Thanks
priya
March 23, 2013 at 1:40 am · Reply
Seamus
March 28, 2013 at 11:57 am · Reply
Me
April 5, 2013 at 10:46 am · Reply
Chris
April 15, 2013 at 3:43 am · Reply
very helpful advice I am grateful for this, your advice was so much clearer than microsofts own website
Lanelle
April 23, 2013 at 1:03 pm · Reply
Thank you for the clear and concise explanation. I should have checked online first and saved myself a
lot of time!
Dale
May 2, 2013 at 9:44 am · Reply
Ovais
May 3, 2013 at 9:13 am · Reply
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Prashant
May 14, 2013 at 2:30 pm · Reply
Azee
June 14, 2013 at 2:50 am · Reply
Panagiotis
August 7, 2013 at 6:05 pm · Reply
Kimba
September 23, 2013 at 1:11 pm · Reply
Lingaraja
October 7, 2013 at 11:30 am · Reply
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