In Excel and Google Sheets, the column heading or column header is the gray-colored row containing the letters (A, B, C, etc.) used to identify each column in the worksheet. The column header is located above row 1 in the worksheet. The row heading or row header is the gray-colored column located to the left of column 1 in the worksheet containing the numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.) used to identify each row in the worksheet.
Taken together, the column letters and the row numbers in the two headings create cell references which identify individual cells that are located at the intersection point between a column and row in a worksheet. Cell references – such as A1, F56, or AC498 – are used extensively in spreadsheet operations such as formulas and when creating charts.
By default, Excel and Google Spreadsheets do not print the column or row headings seen on screen. Printing these heading rows often makes it easier to track the location of data in large, printed worksheets. In Excel, it is a simple matter to activate the feature. Note, however, that it must be turned on for each worksheet to be printed. Activating the feature on one worksheet in a workbook will not result in the row and column headings being printed for all worksheets.
Currently, it is not possible to print column and row headings in Google Spreadsheets. To print the column and/or row headings for the current worksheet in Excel:
The row and column headings do not have to be displayed on a particular worksheet. Reasons for turning them off would be to improve the appearance of the worksheet or to gain extra screen space on large worksheets – possibly when taking screen captures. As with printing, the row and column headings must be turned on or off for each individual worksheet. To turn off the row and column headings in Excel:
Currently, it is not possible to turn column and row headings off in Google Sheets.
By default, Excel uses the A1 reference style for cell references. This results, as mentioned, in the column headings displaying letters above each column starting with the letter A and the row heading displaying numbers beginning with one. An alternative referencing system – known as R1C1 references – is available and if it is activated, all worksheets in all workbooks will display numbers rather than letters in the column headings. The row headings continue to display numbers as with the A1 referencing system. There are some advantages to using the R1C1 system – mostly when it comes to formulas and when writing VBA code for Excel macros. To turn the R1C1 referencing system on or off:
Whenever a new Excel file is opened, the row and column headings are displayed using the workbook's default Normal style font. This Normal style font is also the default font used in all worksheet cells. For Excel 2013, 2016, and Excel 365, the default heading font is Calibri 11 pt. but this can be changed if it is too small, too plain, or just not to your liking. Note, however, that this change affects all worksheets in a workbook. To change the Normal style settings:
If you do not save the workbook after making this change the font change will not be saved and the workbook will revert back to the previous font the next time it is opened.
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