This function returns 1: =COLUMN(9:9). I would expect it to return an error,
being that row 9 is not, in fact, a column.

What's happening here?

Dave
--
A hint to posters: Specific, detailed questions are more likely to be
answered than questions that provide no detail about your problem.

Help says:
"If reference is a range of cells, and if COLUMN is entered as a horizontal
array, COLUMN returns the column numbers of reference as a horizontal
array."
If you enter only the first element of that horizontal array, you'll get the
first element of the result, i.e. COLUMN(A9), which is 1. If you extend it
to a horizintal array, you'll get 1, 2, 3, .... etc.
--
David Biddulph

"Dave F" wrote in message
...
This function returns 1: =COLUMN(9:9). I would expect it to return an
error,
being that row 9 is not, in fact, a column.

What's happening here?

That formula actually returns an array of all the columns in the range 9:9.
To see this press F2 and then F9. The "1" you see is just the first value
in the array.

--
Jim
"Dave F" wrote in message
...
| This function returns 1: =COLUMN(9:9). I would expect it to return an
error,
| being that row 9 is not, in fact, a column.
|
| What's happening here?
|
| Dave
| --
| A hint to posters: Specific, detailed questions are more likely to be
| answered than questions that provide no detail about your problem.

I'm not sure that answers the question. I entered the formula in cell B1.
Extending it do the right does not return 2,3,4 etc.


--
A hint to posters: Specific, detailed questions are more likely to be
answered than questions that provide no detail about your problem.


"David Biddulph" wrote:

Help says:
"If reference is a range of cells, and if COLUMN is entered as a horizontal
array, COLUMN returns the column numbers of reference as a horizontal
array."
If you enter only the first element of that horizontal array, you'll get the
first element of the result, i.e. COLUMN(A9), which is 1. If you extend it
to a horizintal array, you'll get 1, 2, 3, .... etc.
--
David Biddulph

"Dave F" wrote in message
...
This function returns 1: =COLUMN(9:9). I would expect it to return an
error,
being that row 9 is not, in fact, a column.

What's happening here?

The way you wrote the formula, it will return an array of column numbers for
each cell referenced, beginning with the first cell referenced.

Try this
A1: =COLUMN(9:9)

Now....edit that cell and press the [F9] key
The cell now displays
{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,....256}

(Where ... is inplace of the series of numbers from 17 through 255)

If you do this instead:
A1: =COLUMN(C9:F9)

Edit....[F9]...the cell displays
={3,4,5,6}


Does that help?
***********
Regards,
Ron

XL2002, WinXP


"Dave F" wrote:

This function returns 1: =COLUMN(9:9). I would expect it to return an error,
being that row 9 is not, in fact, a column.

What's happening here?

Dave
--
A hint to posters: Specific, detailed questions are more likely to be
answered than questions that provide no detail about your problem.

Actually now I understand your explanation.

Dave
--
A hint to posters: Specific, detailed questions are more likely to be
answered than questions that provide no detail about your problem.


"Dave F" wrote:

I'm not sure that answers the question. I entered the formula in cell B1.
Extending it do the right does not return 2,3,4 etc.


--
A hint to posters: Specific, detailed questions are more likely to be
answered than questions that provide no detail about your problem.


"David Biddulph" wrote:

Help says:
"If reference is a range of cells, and if COLUMN is entered as a horizontal
array, COLUMN returns the column numbers of reference as a horizontal
array."
If you enter only the first element of that horizontal array, you'll get the
first element of the result, i.e. COLUMN(A9), which is 1. If you extend it
to a horizintal array, you'll get 1, 2, 3, .... etc.
--
David Biddulph

"Dave F" wrote in message
...
This function returns 1: =COLUMN(9:9). I would expect it to return an
error,
being that row 9 is not, in fact, a column.

What's happening here?

It will if you enter it as an array formula (CSE).
--
David Biddulph

"Dave F" wrote in message
...
I'm not sure that answers the question. I entered the formula in cell B1.
Extending it do the right does not return 2,3,4 etc.

"David Biddulph" wrote:

Help says:
"If reference is a range of cells, and if COLUMN is entered as a
horizontal
array, COLUMN returns the column numbers of reference as a horizontal
array."
If you enter only the first element of that horizontal array, you'll get
the
first element of the result, i.e. COLUMN(A9), which is 1. If you extend
it
to a horizintal array, you'll get 1, 2, 3, .... etc.
--
David Biddulph

"Dave F" wrote in message
...
This function returns 1: =COLUMN(9:9). I would expect it to return an
error,
being that row 9 is not, in fact, a column.

What's happening here?