What are colums to the left of Column A for?

[Guest]

I have received a spreadsheet with columns numbered 1 - 4 to the left of
Column A1. They are locked & have a scroll bar at the bottom of the sheet.
What are thiese columns/rows set up or used for? The columns are protected
and I cannot find it's creator.

 

[David McRitchie]

Hi Macklanta,
There are subtotals. Data, Subtotals
normally you can click on the number and that level of subtotals will appear.
Used in combination with Select Visible cells (alt+semi-colon) you can color
and boldface particular totals rows.

Very briefly mentioned on my sumdata.htm page, but you know what you
can search for in HELP and in Google..

I think "Basics of using Subtotals" (video) would describe them well
http://www.datapigtechnologies.com/ExcelMain.htm

 

[Dave Peterson]

You can also get them via Data|Group and outline|group.

Try clicking on the +/-'s and try clicking on those numbers at the top.

You can turn them off (I wouldn't!) by removing the subtotals or grouping or
just hide them by: Tools|Options|view tab|uncheck Outline symbols

(But don't do it.)