It was based on memory bytes:

256 = 2^8 or 2*2*2*2*2*2*2*2

8 binary bits, or one byte, can store the integers 0-255 (i.e., 256
numbers).


65536 = 2^16 or 2*2*2*2*2*2*2*2*2*2*2*2*2*2*2*2

16 binary bits, or two bytes, can store the integers 0-65535 (i.e,.
65536 numbers).

So internally, each cell address had a representation that requires
exactly 3 bytes - one for column, and two for row.



In article ,
"bm" wrote:

im wondering why there is 256 columns and 65536 rows on microsoft excel/