How do I find the Excel column name that corresponds to a given integer? [duplicate]

Answer 1

Thanks, Joseph Sturtevant! Your code works perfectly - I needed it in vbscript, so figured I'd share my version:

Function ColumnLetter(ByVal intColumnNumber)
    Dim sResult
    intColumnNumber = intColumnNumber - 1
    If (intColumnNumber >= 0 And intColumnNumber < 26) Then
        sResult = Chr(65 + intColumnNumber)
    ElseIf (intColumnNumber >= 26) Then
        sResult = ColumnLetter(CLng(intColumnNumber \ 26)) _
                & ColumnLetter(CLng(intColumnNumber Mod 26 + 1))
    Else
        err.Raise 8, "Column()", "Invalid Column #" & CStr(intColumnNumber + 1)
    End If
    ColumnLetter = sResult
End Function

Answer 2

I currently use this, but I have a feeling that it can be optimized.

private String GetNthExcelColName(int n)
{
    String firstLetter = "";  
    //if number is under 26, it has a single letter name
    // otherwise, it is 'A' for 27-52, 'B' for 53-78, etc
    if(n > 26)
    {
        //the Converts to double and back to int are just so Floor() can be used
        Double value = Convert.ToDouble((n-1) / 26);
        int firstLetterVal = Convert.ToInt32(Math.Floor(value))-1;
        firstLetter = Convert.ToChar(firstLetterValue + 65).ToString();
    }    

    //second letter repeats
    int secondLetterValue = (n-1) % 26;
    String secondLetter = Convert.ToChar(secondLetterValue+65).ToString();

    return firstLetter + secondLetter;
}

Answer 3

FROM wcm:

If you don't want to use VBA, you can use this replace colnr with the number you want

=MID(ADDRESS(1,colnr),2,LEN(ADDRESS(1,colnr))-3)

Please be aware of the fact that this formula is volatile because of the usage of the ADDRESS function. Volatile functions are functions that are recalculated by excel after EVERY change. Normally excel recalculates formula's only when their dependent references changes.

It could be a performance killer, to use this formula.

Answer 4

And here is a conversion from the VBScript version to SQL Server 2000+.

CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[GetExcelColRef] 
(
    @col_seq_no int
)
RETURNS varchar(5)
AS
BEGIN

declare @Result varchar(5)
set @Result = ''
set @col_seq_no = @col_seq_no - 1
If (@col_seq_no >= 0 And @col_seq_no < 26) 
BEGIN
    set @Result = char(65 + @col_seq_no)
END
ELSE
BEGIN
    set @Result = [dbo].[GetExcelColRef] (@col_seq_no / 26) + '' + [dbo].[GetExcelColRef]  ((@col_seq_no % 26) + 1)
END
Return @Result

END
GO

Answer 5

Here is the cleanest correct solution I could come up with (in Java, but feel free to use your favorite language):

String getNthColumnName(int n) {
    String name = "";
    while (n > 0) {
        n--;
        name = (char)('A' + n%26) + name;
        n /= 26;
    }
    return name;
}

But please do let me know of if you find a mistake in this code, thank you.

Answer 6

Joseph's code is good but, if you don't want or need to use a VBA function, try this.

Assuming that the value of n is in cell A2 Use this function:

=MID(ADDRESS(1,A2),2,LEN(ADDRESS(1,A2))-3)