Are you tired of manually converting column numbers to letters in Google Sheets? Well, I have some juicy secrets to share with you! In this article, I will show you two formulas that will make your life easier. So buckle up and get ready to learn something amazing!
Formula 1: Using Address and Regexextract Functions
The first combination of functions that we will explore is Address and Regexextract. By using these functions, we can easily convert a column number to its corresponding column letter in Google Sheets. Let me show you how it works.
=regexextract(address(1, column_number_to_convert), "[A-Z]+")To use this formula, simply replace column_number_to_convert with the desired column number. For example, if you want to convert column number 26 to a letter, the formula would be:
=regexextract(address(1, 26), "[A-Z]+")The Address formula returns the cell reference $Z$1 using the input values of row number 1 and column number 26. By using the Regexextract function with the expression [A-Z]+, we extract the letter Z from the cell reference. Voila! We have successfully converted the column number 26 to the corresponding column letter Z.
Formula 2: Using Substitute and Address Functions
If you prefer a different approach, we can also use the Substitute and Address functions to achieve the same result. This combination is a favorite among Excel users and can be easily applied in Google Sheets.
=substitute(address(1, column_number_to_convert, 4), "1", "")Similar to the previous formula, replace column_number_to_convert with the desired column number. For example:
=substitute(address(1, 26, 4), "1", "")In this case, the Address function returns Z1 instead of $Z$1 because we used the optional argument absolute_relative_mode of 4. By substituting the row number 1 with an empty string, we are left with only the column letter. And just like that, we’ve converted the column number 26 to the corresponding column letter Z.
Column Letter to Column Number
But what if you need to do the reverse? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! To convert a column letter to its corresponding column number in Google Sheets, we can use the Columns function along with the Indirect function.
=columns(indirect("A1:"&"column_letter_to_convert"&1))Replace column_letter_to_convert with the desired column letter. For example, if you want to find the column number of BY, the formula would be:
=columns(indirect("A1:"&"BY"&1))The Indirect function allows us to include the column letter in the Columns formula. If your sheet does not contain the column specified, the formula will return the last column number in the sheet.
Workaround – Insert Columns Using Column Array Function
If you encounter limitations due to missing columns in your sheet, I have a workaround for you. Follow these steps:
- Enter the following formula in the first column (cell A1, A2, A3, or any cell in the first column):
=ArrayFormula(column(A1:MM1))- Make sure that the row where the formula is entered is blank.
- Wait a few seconds for the formula to work its magic, and it will insert 300 columns.
- Finally, delete the formula.
Now you can convert column letters like a pro, even if the column in question doesn’t exist in your sheet!
I hope these tips have been helpful in your Google Sheets adventures. Feel free to check out Crawlan.com for more exciting articles and tips on Google Sheets. Happy converting!
