How to Use Excel's Column Function
Excel's Column function determines the column number for the specified reference. Columns in Excel are normally designated with letters of the alphabet beginning with A as the first column. Column will return 1 for cells in column A, 2 for cells in column B and so on. The following steps will show how to use Excel's Column function.
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Instructions
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Learn the syntax of Column. It is Column (reference_value) where reference_value is an optional argument that must be a cell or cell range. If reference_value is omitted, the cell that the Column function is in will be used. Column will return the column number.
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Enter Column as a horizontal array and use a range of cells as reference_value. Column will return the column numbers as a horizontal array. Reference_value cannot refer to multiple areas.
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Study the use of an array as an argument for Column. It is used to construct formulas that will return multiple results or function on a set of arguments that are in columns and rows.
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Look at some examples of Column.
Enter =Column (A10) in A1. Column will return 1, showing that cell A10 is in the first column.
Enter =Column() in A2. Column will return 1, meaning that the Column function was entered in the first column.
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Utilize a more complex use of Column. Enter = Column (C:C) in A1 to get a result of 3, indicating that column C is the third column. Now select that cell and copy the formula using the copy option in the context menu. Select cell C1 and paste the formula using the paste option in the context menu. The result will now be five. Notice that the formula was automatically incremented by two columns.
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