EXCEL-Switch Excel Column Heading To Number or Alphabets

12/18/13 Excel Column Headings Show Numbers | Contextures Blog
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Excel Column Headings Show Numbers

By Debra Dalgleish, on April 13th, 2009
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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.
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.
Why It Happens
blog.contextures.com/archives/2009/04/13/excel-column-headings-show-numbers/ 1/8
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:
1. At the left end of the Ribbon, click the File tab, then click 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.
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.
In Excel 2003 and earlier versions:

1. On the Tools menu, click Options and select the General tab.
2. Add or remove the check mark from 'R1C1 reference style'
3. 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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to Numbers Headers INDIRECT
Linkwithin
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April 13th, 2009 | Category: Excel tips
41 comments to Excel Column Headings Show Numbers
Tara
December 13, 2011 at 9:32 pm · Reply
Thank You!!!!!!!!!!! Huge Help
Debra Dalgleish
You're welcome! Glad it helped.
Carmen Jones
Help - How do I change this in version 2010? This is really disruptive!
Debra Dalgleish
@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
Brilliant, thanks Debra! That was exactly it.
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
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
@Kathleen, do you know how/where the original file was created?

Also, if you're using Excel 2003 or later, you can create a List, or insert a Table, based on the
data, and that should add arrows to the heading row. You can use those to sort and filter.
satya
May 10, 2012 at 11:46 am · Reply
Thank you so much for your help.

I got excel from someone and the column headings are in numbers.
I was struggling how to get it back to letters.This blog helped me a lot.
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
Thank you for help.
Bella
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
Thanks a ton! This helped
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!
counting columbs
September 17, 2012 at 7:04 am · Reply
[...] [...]
Debra H
October 2, 2012 at 12:48 pm · Reply
Great help. Thanks for the simple and precise instructions.
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
thanks you. . .
Milad
January 9, 2013 at 6:02 am · Reply
Thanks, this was really helpful.
Kong You
Yes, That solve my problem. Thanks.
aron
February 21, 2013 at 6:46 pm · Reply
tks verry much
Sabs
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
dear madam thnk you very much it was heplful for me
Seamus
Saved my sanity! Thanks! Your explaination was clear and correct.
Me
Many thanks! You saved my day (and my weekend too!!)
Chris
very helpful advice I am grateful for this, your advice was so much clearer than microsofts own website
Lanelle
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
Thank you that helped a lot.
Ovais
May 3, 2013 at 9:13 am · Reply
Thanks !!!! great help :)
How to change columns from numbers to letters

May 13, 2013 at 7:23 am · Reply
[...] Take a look here. [...]
Prashant
May 14, 2013 at 2:30 pm · Reply
Thanks for the solution for 2010 Excel.
Azee
June 14, 2013 at 2:50 am · Reply
this proved to be a very big help. many, many thanks! :) - azee
Panagiotis
August 7, 2013 at 6:05 pm · Reply
Tks it REALLY helps a lot.
Kimba
September 23, 2013 at 1:11 pm · Reply
Thanks for your help Debra!
Lingaraja
October 7, 2013 at 11:30 am · Reply
Thanks a lot.. I was struck because of this for half an hour.

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12/18/13 Excel Column Headings Show Numbers | Contextures Blog

« Conditional Formatting Icons in Excel 2003 Safely Sorting Data in Excel

Excel Column Headings Show Numbers

Like 3 Tw eet 0 4 Share

Video: Change Excel Column Headings from Numbers to Letters

Turn R1C1 Reference Style On or Off

2. Click the Formulas category.

In Excel 2003 and earlier versions:

3. Click OK to close the Options dialog box.

Use a Macro to Switch Headings

You might also like:

Share and Enjoy

April 13th, 2009 | Category: Excel tips

41 comments to Excel Column Headings Show Numbers

Thank You!!!!!!!!!!! Huge Help

You're welcome! Glad it helped.

Help - How do I change this in version 2010? This is really disruptive!

Brilliant, thanks Debra! That was exactly it.

@Kathleen, do you know how/where the original file was created?

Thank you so much for your help.

Thank you for help.

Thanks a ton! This helped

Great help. Thanks for the simple and precise instructions.

Thanks, this was really helpful.

Yes, That solve my problem. Thanks.

tks verry much

dear madam thnk you very much it was heplful for me

Saved my sanity! Thanks! Your explaination was clear and correct.

Many thanks! You saved my day (and my weekend too!!)

Thank you that helped a lot.

Thanks !!!! great help :)

How to change columns from numbers to letters

[...] Take a look here. [...]

Thanks for the solution for 2010 Excel.

this proved to be a very big help. many, many thanks! :) - azee

Tks it REALLY helps a lot.

Thanks for your help Debra!

Thanks a lot.. I was struck because of this for half an hour.

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