RibbonKeysChange R1C1 to A1 in Excel for Mac
To change R1C1 to A1 in Excel for Mac, press ⌘ , to open Excel's settings, click Calculation under Formulas and Lists, and clear Use R1C1 reference style. The column headings turn back into letters and every formula shows A1 references again, at once.
In older versions the window is called Preferences rather than Settings. It is in the Excel menu either way, and ⌘ , opens it in all of them. The switch changes only how references are written: the formulas and their results stay the same.
Step by step
- With Excel in front, press ⌘ ,, or choose Excel › Settings in the menu bar.
- Under Formulas and Lists, click Calculation.
- Clear the check box Use R1C1 reference style.
- Close the window. The column headings read A, B, C again.
How to tell R1C1 style is on
- The columns are numbered. The headings read 1, 2, 3 where they would read A, B, C.
- The Name Box gives row and column. It shows R5C3 for the cell in row 5, column 3, which A1 style calls C5.
- Formulas count from their own cell. A formula in A4 that adds A2 and A3 reads =R[-2]C+R[-1]C: two rows up and one row up, in the same column.
When it comes back
The check box belongs to Excel rather than to one workbook, so once it is cleared it stays cleared. A workbook keeps the reference style it was saved with, though, and opening one that was saved in R1C1 style can switch Excel back to it. If the numbers return, clear the box again.
On Windows
In Excel for Windows the same check box is under File › Options › Formulas, in Working with formulas, as R1C1 reference style; Alt+F+T opens Options there. Excel for Mac has no File tab and keeps its settings in the Excel menu, which is why the Windows path leads nowhere on a Mac.
Checking formulas from the keyboard
Back in A1 style, the Formulas tab shows what each formula refers to. Excel for Mac does not take the Windows Alt keys for it by itself; with RibbonKeys they work as on Windows, with Option in place of Alt. ⌥ M H shows the formulas instead of their results, ⌥ M P traces precedents, ⌥ M D traces dependents and ⌥ M A A removes the arrows. RibbonKeys does not change the reference style: the check box above does that, with or without it. The full list has every letter of the Formulas tab, and the Alt key in Excel for Mac explains how tapping Option works.
Questions
How do I change R1C1 to A1 in Excel for Mac?
Press ⌘, to open Excel's settings, click Calculation and clear Use R1C1 reference style. The column headings turn back into letters at once.
Why does Excel for Mac show numbers instead of letters for the columns?
The R1C1 reference style is on. It numbers the columns as well as the rows, so cell C5 is R5C3. Clear Use R1C1 reference style under Excel › Settings › Calculation.
Does switching from R1C1 to A1 change my formulas?
No. Only the way references are written changes. The formulas refer to the same cells and give the same results.
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