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FIX: Edits after Elsa's review and further tests

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Tom
2025-11-27 18:49:32 +01:00
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docs/src/functions/lookup_and_reference/column.md
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@@ -6,22 +6,24 @@ lang: en-US
# COLUMN function # COLUMN function
## Overview ## Overview
The COLUMN Function in IronCalc is a lookup & reference formula that is used to query and return the column number of a referenced Column or Cell. The COLUMN Function in IronCalc is a lookup & reference formula that is used to query and return the column number of a referenced column or cell.
## Usage ## Usage
### Syntax ### Syntax
**COLUMN(<span title="Reference" style="color:#1E88E5">reference</span>) => <span title="Number" style="color:#1E88E5">column</span>** **COLUMN(<span title="Reference" style="color:#1E88E5">reference</span>) => <span title="Number" style="color:#1E88E5">column</span>**
### Argument descriptions ### Argument descriptions
* *reference* ([cell](/features/value-types#references), [optional](/features/optional-arguments.md)). The cell, column, or range for which you wish to find the column number. * *reference* ([cell](/features/value-types#references), [optional](/features/optional-arguments.md)). The cell, column, range, or [Named Range](/web-application/name-manager.html) for which you wish to find the column number.
### Additional guidance ### Additional guidance
* When referencing a range of cells, only the column number of the leftmost cell will be returned. * When referencing a range of cells, only the column number of the leftmost cell will be returned.
* You are also able to reference complete columns instead of individual cells. * You are also able to reference complete columns instead of individual cells.
* When using a Named Range as a reference, the reference is not case sensitive.
* IronCalc supports the use of both *Absolute* ($A$1) and *Relative* (A1) references. * IronCalc supports the use of both *Absolute* ($A$1) and *Relative* (A1) references.
* Cross-sheet references are also supported. * Cross-sheet references are also supported.
### Returned value ### Returned value
COLUMN returns the [number](/features/value-types#numbers) of the specific cell or column which is being referenced. If no reference is included, the column number of the cell where the formula is entered will be returned. COLUMN returns the [number](/features/value-types#numbers) of the specific cell or column which is being referenced. If no reference is included, the column number of the cell where the formula is entered will be returned.
### Error conditions ### Error conditions
* IronCalc currently does not support the referencing of cells with names. * A [#NAME?](/features/error-types.html#name) error is returned if a Naming Range being referenced is deleted.
* An error will be returned if the referenced cell or column is deleted. * A [#REF!](/features/error-types.html#ref) error is returned if a cell being referenced is deleted.
* A [#VALUE!](/features/error-types.html#value) error is returned if a column being referenced is deleted.
## Details ## Details
The COLUMN Function can only be used to display the correlating number of a single column within a Sheet. If you wish to show the number of columns used within a specific range, you can use the [COLUMNS](/functions/lookup_and_reference/columns) Function. The COLUMN Function can only be used to display the correlating number of a single column within a Sheet. If you wish to show the number of columns used within a specific range, you can use the [COLUMNS](/functions/lookup_and_reference/columns) Function.
## Examples ## Examples
@@ -30,7 +32,7 @@ When no cell reference is made, the formula uses **=COLUMN()**. This will output
### With Cell Reference ### With Cell Reference
When a cell reference is made, the formula uses **=COLUMN(<span title="Reference" style="color:#1E88E5">Referenced Cell</span>)**. This will then output the column number of the referenced cell, regardless of where the formula is placed in the sheet.<br><br>For example, if B1 is the referenced cell, then "2" will be the output of the formula, regardless of where the formula is placed in the sheet.<br><br>**Note:** references do not have to be specific cells, you can also reference complete columns. For example, **=COLUMN(B:B)** would also result in an output of "2". When a cell reference is made, the formula uses **=COLUMN(<span title="Reference" style="color:#1E88E5">Referenced Cell</span>)**. This will then output the column number of the referenced cell, regardless of where the formula is placed in the sheet.<br><br>For example, if B1 is the referenced cell, then "2" will be the output of the formula, regardless of where the formula is placed in the sheet.<br><br>**Note:** references do not have to be specific cells, you can also reference complete columns. For example, **=COLUMN(B:B)** would also result in an output of "2".
### Range References ### Range References
The COLUMN function can also be used to reference a range of Cells or Columns. In this case only the most left-hand column will be the resulting output.<br><br>For example, **=COLUMN(A1:J1)** will result in the output of "1". The COLUMN function can also be used to reference a range of cells or columns. In this case only the leftmost column will be the resulting output.<br><br>For example, **=COLUMN(A1:J1)** will result in the output of "1".
## Links ## Links
* Visit Microsoft Excel's [Column function](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/column-function-44e8c754-711c-4df3-9da4-47a55042554b) page. * Visit Microsoft Excel's [Column function](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/column-function-44e8c754-711c-4df3-9da4-47a55042554b) page.
* Both [Google Sheets](https://support.google.com/docs/answer/3093373) and [LibreOffice Calc](https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Documentation/Calc_Functions/COLUMN) provide versions of the Column function. * Both [Google Sheets](https://support.google.com/docs/answer/3093373) and [LibreOffice Calc](https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Documentation/Calc_Functions/COLUMN) provide versions of the CCOLUMN function.