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Use of column() function
Resolved · Medium Priority · Version 2007
Reply Thu 9 Sep 2010, 15:52Delegate Edward said...
Edward has attended:
Excel Advanced course
Use of column() function
On the advanced course we used the column() function. As I understood it, if you used the function and picked a cell it would return the number 1 and then it was copied to teh adjacent cell then it would return a 2. however, on my own desktop it only returns the actual number of the column i.e. if a cell in column G is selected it will return 7. Can you advise which is correct?
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RE: use of column() function
Edward,
your right, that is how the column() function is used. If you have a formula where you need to specify a number value, for example the formula looks in a certain column, say column H to pick up the invoice figure for that day, and you know you need to copy that formula to the right so it can pick up the invoice totals from I, J, K, L.
If you typed the column number in e.g. 8 as column H is the eighth column from the left, then after copying to the right, you'd have to go into each formula copied, and change the column number manually to 9, 10, 11 etc...
So if we replace that number 8 with the function Column(H3), excel see's it as a number 8 (remember the column function ignores the row number part! Its only interested in the H part.
Now, as this function and its cell ref H3 is RELATIVE, as we move the original formula across the sheet, the H3 in the Column function will change to I3, J3, K3 etc.. which in turn references the numbers 9, 10, 11 etc..
Sorry its a long explaination, if you need more help let me know.
Thu 16 Sep 2010: Automatically marked as resolved.
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