Forum Discussion
SkyTrader
Apr 05, 2021Copper Contributor
Stop First Row Being Numbered in Excel
Only Excel can make you spend an hour on Google trying to find the answer and figure out what should be the most ridiculously simple thing to do: Stop the First Row Being Numbered. Seriously w...
- Apr 07, 2021
Based on my experience and everything I've ever read, there is no way to change excel's row/column labels via excel's menu or vba, which is what it appears you are asking.
You can hide or unhide the row/column labels, and while you might be able to use a formula to visually replicate row/column label(s), either the custom row or column label won't agree to the actual cell references in your existing formulas, which comes back to Peter's comment regarding it would work better in a structured named environment.
You could do this (replicating excel's column letters), for example, but your data table row 1 will actually be Excel's row 3 (still mismatched, but it wouldn't be as obvious).
Seriously, I don't see any available options that I think you will like based on what you've said thus far.
PeterBartholomew1
Apr 05, 2021Silver Contributor
If your reference style is based on Table names and dynamic ranges then it is perfectly possible to hide the 'town plan' style of sheet coordinates and create more meaningful array indices linked to data objects rather than the sheet.
SkyTrader
Apr 05, 2021Copper Contributor
PeterBartholomew1
Hi Peter, thanks for the image, this is exactly what I want. A header with no zero and the rows starting with 1,2, 3 etc which will match my VIX levels of 1,2, and 3 etc. At the moment the VIX is "out of sync" with the Row numbers. Pls see image.
- PeterBartholomew1Apr 06, 2021Silver Contributor
I used the Excel 365 SEQUENCE function to generate fake row and column headers that matched the dimensions of the data ranges on the sheet (the sheet-based values being hidden as discussed subsequently). You already have the 'VIX Reading's for that. Formatting and sheet splits can be applied to taste.
Hiding the grid and sheet headings only makes sense if you adopt a referencing style that is entirely based on Names and Structured References.
- SkyTraderApr 06, 2021Copper ContributorThanks PeterBartholomew1,
How would I go about doing that step by step please, (instead of losing the far left column numbers via unticking Row/Col Headers - of which I might need to reference row/col values later)?
Cheers.- PeterBartholomew1Apr 06, 2021Silver Contributor
Sorry but it is the unchecking of the headings that is a common feature of workbooks I deliver (though I do occasionally leave the headings and the grid showing as a 'comfort blanket' for users that would feel insecure without them). As you point out, the row numbers systematically fail to index the content and I would suggest that the idea of denoting the columns by letters is ridiculous. Whilst developing the workbook, the headings do provide controls, allowing rows/columns to be inserted or resized.
Your record numbers in the 'VIX Reading' can be useful in formulas but, personally, I have little use for the values shown in the built-in headings.
- JMB17Apr 06, 2021Bronze Contributor
You could hide excel's row/column headers. File/Options/Advanced and scroll down to the display options for this worksheet section.
- SkyTraderApr 06, 2021Copper Contributor
Thanks but this is why I wasted an hour earlier today despite clarifying my system and version (Macbook/Excel v16 2019 (and tried 2021)), none of the menus in the google search results/videos corresponded to my version....
- Riny_van_EekelenApr 06, 2021Platinum Contributor
SkyTrader If it's the "Show row and column headers" switch (as suggested by JMB17 ) that you are looking for in Excel for Mac, go to Excel, Preferences, View. Here you can switch off the row and column headers. It may look a bit different on your version but it should be very similar.