Excel Numbers to Letters Fix

In this article/tutorial I will explain how to quickly change the column headings in MS excel from numbers (1,2,3…) back to letters (A,B,C…). An issue like this can be real troublesome especially if you work with a lot of formulas within excel as I do. This can create confusion for those new to excel and possible through off your formula calculations. So we want to look at how to fix this issue if it were to happen within your excel. Then again, if you have found this article then you are more than likely faced with this issue. Seeing letters where numbers should be within excel can be fixed easily. Likewise seeing numbers where lettets should be can also be fixed this way. This is a vise versa technique depending on what you are doing or want to do in Microsoft Excel.

Why you should Fix this excel issue

As this can be very troublesome when you are ready to work it is best to have the knowledge of how to troubleshoot this issue. It is very unfortunate to open excel only to find that it is in numbers and not letters or visa versa. So, we need to know how to fix this.

Below you will find an image showing you the normal view of excel columns. This will show you how your excel is suppose to look in its natural state. Meaning, how you are used to it or how it is to be to work with formulas properly.

Normal View of Excel columns

Below you will now see the error version that we are trying to fix. If you come across your excel document looking like the below then stick around to find out how to fix this. If you are interested in other topics related to excel feel free to look through my blog page. Or you may contact me via my contact page to make request if you need specific help not yet posted on this website.

Issue view to fix in Excel columns

Quick steps to Change Excel from Numbers to Letters

Now you will find below some Quick steps on how to fix this Excel issue at hand. Simple follow the below and your Excel document will be back to normal view in no time. Don’t forget to drop a like and share this information so others may also benefit. That being said, here are the steps to follow to fix Excel in abnormal column view:

• Open Microsoft Excel
• Go to File in the upper left hand corner and click on it. This will now take you to a drop down menu where you will be able to find excel options.
• Scroll down to Options and click on it. From here, you will be well on your way to fixing this issue.

What Next?

• Next, locate FORMULAS (this should be the second option located under GENERAL). Click on it and it will open all other options related to formulas in excel documents. Since columns and rows are paramount when working with excel formulas this is where you need to correct the issue.
• Look for the heading called “Working with formulas“. Here you will find R1C1 reference style. Yes, this is where the issue lies. For some reason excel from time to time will revert to this option being checked and this is what messes up your documents column. Uncheck the box beside it please and click on OK. You are now finish.

Your excel document should now look like the first image above “normal view of excel columns”. If you ever need to go back to your excel columns being in numbers just follow the steps again and check the R1C1 reference style box.

^{YouTube Video} Tutorial:

Okay, so here I have also provided a video tutorial on how to perform this task. Simply watch along and follow the steps to get your excel document back to normal viewing. Feel free to like this video and check out all my other videos. You never know, there maybe many other videos there to help you out. So, check out encyclotek’s YouTube channel.