Forum Discussion

Copper Contributor

Apr 05, 2021

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...

Excel on Mac

JMB17
Apr 07, 2021
SkyTrader
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

Silver Contributor

SkyTrader

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.

SkyTrader

Copper Contributor

Apr 06, 2021

Thanks 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.

PeterBartholomew1
Silver Contributor
Apr 06, 2021
SkyTrader
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.