Column Name


Posted by Nic Domondon on November 23, 2001 12:15 AM

Typically in building a spreadsheet, I use row 1 for the column headers. My question is, is there a way to change the column headers in excel such that instead of letters, i can place my own header? This way, row 1 immediately becomes a data cell not a column header cell.

This is so that i do not have to refer to a cell address as A143. Instead i can refer to a cell as NAME143 for example. It is a lot easier to navigate through a large spreadsheet instead of remembering combinations of letters and numbers.

Can I also do this with the rows?

Posted by Juan Pablo on November 23, 2001 11:30 AM

No, but you can name specific ranges, or cells, so A143 will be NAME143 and you can refer to it as this... maybe, maybe, but it would involve some big formulas, you could create a TABLE where you define the "column name" you want, and in the next column the "actual column", so in your example you would have {"NAME","A"}, and then you would have to use VLOOKUP, INDIRECT and some other functions...

Conclusion... i don't recomend this.

Juan Pablo



Posted by Jack on November 23, 2001 2:49 PM

Sure i love the idea and would do just the same, but Excel will hate it and wont allow it, except it Excel we love some of it we cant change, you use a table as such and name the table:

Look try this go row 1 is names say date amount and manth and so on go to bottom of amount and input =sum(Amount) and hit enter as long as Amount is exactly as what in row 1 for Amount then Excel will add them all up and return the answer.. simple where the problem..


OK goto cell gh678 and input the same formula =sum(Amount) and hit enter bet it returns the same answer, Excel is cleaver you dfont always have to full name ranges, but it helps.

I agrre with Jauns comments learn who to make Excel work for you and you have such fun without looking.

Good luck