XL: Macro to Convert Column Numbers to Column Letters

ID: Q153318

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0
Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a
Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications, if you use the Column property to return the column position, but you want to return the column letter instead, use the following code to convert the column number to a column letter.

MORE INFORMATION

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   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/

The Column property returns the first column of the first area in the range as a number.

Sample Visual Basic Procedure

   Sub Convert_Column()
       Dim MyColumn As String, Here As String

       ' Get the address of the active cell in the current selection
       Here = ActiveCell.Address

       ' Because .Address is $<columnletter>$<rownumber>, drop the first
       ' character and the characters after the column letter(s).
       MyColumn = Mid(Here, InStr(Here, "$") + 1, InStr(2, Here, "$") - 2)

       ' Show the answer.
       MsgBox MyColumn

   End Sub

If you run this macro from a worksheet, a message box displays the active cell's column letter.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Excel Visual Basic User's Guide," Chapter 5, page 70.

Additional query words: 5.00 7.00 8.00 convert r1c1 a1 howto how to XL98 XL97 XL7 XL5 example

Keywords          : kbprg kbdta kbdtacode PgmHowto KbVBA 
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,7.0a,97; MACINTOSH:5.0,98
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: May 18, 1999