History of Excel Templates

Weird question...do any of you long-time users of Excel know the reason why many Excel templates that people create leave column A blank? I see a lot of templates (say for example, receipts), that start in column B....then column A is made very narrow. Why do that? I didn't know if there's a legit reason for it, or if it's old habits. For example, I see old Lotus users using a + sign starting their equations....so I thought maybe this blank column A is from days when we couldn't use options like 'center on page' or something.

Just curious! I would appreciate any thoughts/input

Andrea

Originally Posted by acroley1

For example, I see old Lotus users using a + sign starting their equations....

I saw it in a spreadsheet once, every single formula was preceded by + sign, and I wondered why, didn't know it was Lotus' heritage, I didn't use it...

As for empty column A, I also leave it empty sometimes, for the sole reason of the way it looks: if table starts in cell A1, you cannot see its top and left border; it's especially ugly if border is coloured, so you see coloured bottom and right borders, and sheet edge on the top and left. So I tend to start my tables in cell B2, leave empty column A and one column on the right of the table, make them the same width and hide all other columns, similar for rows, also hide gridlines and column headings, and then the table looks prettier, at least in my eyes.

Originally Posted by froment

...for the sole reason of the way it looks: if table starts in cell A1, you cannot see its top and left border...

Good point!

Anyone else have ideas/reasons? Again, just my curiousity! Thanks again

Originally Posted by newdoverman

(Yes, I started computer use during that era.)

Thanks! I knew info from 'veterans' would help me understand better! Thank you!!!