What to do if Excel’s columns have numbers across the top instead of letters. There’s a simple setting to switch between two different ways of labelling cells.
You open an Excel workbook and the column headings look all wrong – instead of letters (A, B C …) there are numbers. There are numbers for both rows and columns!
What’s happened?
Excel has been switched to a different way of labelling cells. It’s old-fashioned now but still has its uses. Microsoft keeps it in Excel mostly for compatibility.
Instead of cell references like A1 they use a row and column number like R1C1.
Not only have the column labels changed, but the cell labels in the Name Box are different and so are the formulas!
Most worksheets will still work unless there’s some special formulas which rely on one method of cell references.
R1C1 references were used by Microsoft’s Multiplan for Mac back in 1982. Eventually for Excel the company switched to the A1 system used by Visicalc and their archrival Lotus 123.
It’s easy to switch between the two reference styles.
Excel for Windows
Go to File | Options | Formulas | R1C1 reference style.
Excel for Mac
In Excel for Mac go to Preferences | Calculation | Use R1C1 reference style.
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