Consistent stringFromColumnIndex() and columnIndexFromString()

Column indexes are always based on 1 everywhere in PhpSpreadsheet.
This is consistent with rows starting at 1, as well as Excel
function `COLUMN()`. It should also make it easier to reason about
columns and rows and remove any doubts whether a specific method is
expecting 0 based or 1 based indexes.

Fixes #273
Fixes PHPOffice/PHPExcel#307
Fixes PHPOffice/PHPExcel#476

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/).
 
 ### BREAKING CHANGE
 
+- Extracted coordinate method to dedicate class [migration guide](./docs/topics/migration-from-PHPExcel.md).
+- Column indexes are based on 1, see the [migration guide](./docs/topics/migration-from-PHPExcel.md).
 - Standardization of array keys used for style, see the [migration guide](./docs/topics/migration-from-PHPExcel.md).
 - Easier usage of PDF writers, and other custom readers and writers, see the [migration guide](./docs/topics/migration-from-PHPExcel.md).
 - Easier usage of chart renderers, see the [migration guide](./docs/topics/migration-from-PHPExcel.md).

docs/topics/accessing-cells.md

@@ -261,8 +261,7 @@ the cell's `getFormattedValue()` method.
 
 ``` php
 // Get the value fom cell A6
-$cellValue = $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getCell('A6')
-    ->getFormattedValue();
+$cellValue = $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getCell('A6')->getFormattedValue();
 ```
 
 ## Setting a cell value by column and row
@@ -281,22 +280,20 @@ than from `1`.
 ## Retrieving a cell value by column and row
 
 To retrieve the value of a cell, the cell should first be retrieved from
-the worksheet using the getCellByColumnAndRow method. A cell’s value can
+the worksheet using the `getCellByColumnAndRow()` method. A cell’s value can
 be read again using the following line of code:
 
 ``` php
 // Get the value fom cell B5
-$cellValue = $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getCellByColumnAndRow(1, 5)
-    ->getValue();
+$cellValue = $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getCellByColumnAndRow(2, 5)->getValue();
 ```
 
 If you need the calculated value of a cell, use the following code. This
 is further explained in .
 
 ``` php
 // Get the value fom cell A4
-$cellValue = $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getCellByColumnAndRow(0, 4)
-    ->getCalculatedValue();
+$cellValue = $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getCellByColumnAndRow(1, 4)->getCalculatedValue();
 ```
 
 ## Retrieving a range of cell values to an array
@@ -374,8 +371,7 @@ One can use the possibility to access cell values by column and row
 index like (0,1) instead of 'A1' for reading and writing cell values in
 loops.
 
-Note: In PhpSpreadsheet column index is 0-based while row index is
-1-based. That means 'A1' \~ (0,1)
+Note: In PhpSpreadsheet column index and row index are 1-based. That means `'A1'` ~ `[1, 1]`
 
 Below is an example where we read all the values in a worksheet and
 display them in a table.
@@ -394,11 +390,9 @@ $highestColumnIndex = \PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Cell\Cell::columnIndexFromString
 echo '<table>' . "\n";
 for ($row = 1; $row <= $highestRow; ++$row) {
     echo '<tr>' . PHP_EOL;
-    for ($col = 0; $col <= $highestColumnIndex; ++$col) {
-        echo '<td>' .
-             $worksheet->getCellByColumnAndRow($col, $row)
-                 ->getValue() .
-             '</td>' . PHP_EOL;
+    for ($col = 1; $col <= $highestColumnIndex; ++$col) {
+        $value = $worksheet->getCellByColumnAndRow($col, $row)->getValue();
+        echo '<td>' . $value . '</td>' . PHP_EOL;
     }
     echo '</tr>' . PHP_EOL;
 }

docs/topics/migration-from-PHPExcel.md

@@ -363,3 +363,66 @@ $style = [
     ],
 ];
 ```
+
+### Dedicated class to manipulate coordinates
+
+Methods to manipulate coordinates that used to exists in `PHPExcel_Cell` were extracted
+to a dedicated new class `\PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Cell\Coordinate`. The methods are:
+
+- `absoluteCoordinate()`
+- `absoluteReference()`
+- `buildRange()`
+- `columnIndexFromString()`
+- `coordinateFromString()`
+- `extractAllCellReferencesInRange()`
+- `getRangeBoundaries()`
+- `mergeRangesInCollection()`
+- `rangeBoundaries()`
+- `rangeDimension()`
+- `splitRange()`
+- `stringFromColumnIndex()`
+
+### Column index based on 1
+
+Column indexes are now based on 1. So column `A` is the index `1`. This is consistent
+with rows starting at 1 and Excel function `COLUMN()` that returns `1` for column `A`.
+So the code must be adapted with something like:
+
+```php
+// Before
+$cell = $worksheet->getCellByColumnAndRow($column, $row);
+
+for ($column = 0; $column < $max; $column++) {
+    $worksheet->setCellValueByColumnAndRow($column, $row, 'value ' . $column);
+}
+
+// After
+$cell = $worksheet->getCellByColumnAndRow($column + 1, $row);
+
+for ($column = 1; $column <= $max; $column++) {
+    $worksheet->setCellValueByColumnAndRow($column, $row, 'value ' . $column);
+}
+```
+
+All the following methods are affected:
+
+- `PHPExcel_Worksheet::cellExistsByColumnAndRow()`
+- `PHPExcel_Worksheet::freezePaneByColumnAndRow()`
+- `PHPExcel_Worksheet::getCellByColumnAndRow()`
+- `PHPExcel_Worksheet::getColumnDimensionByColumn()`
+- `PHPExcel_Worksheet::getCommentByColumnAndRow()`
+- `PHPExcel_Worksheet::getStyleByColumnAndRow()`
+- `PHPExcel_Worksheet::insertNewColumnBeforeByIndex()`
+- `PHPExcel_Worksheet::mergeCellsByColumnAndRow()`
+- `PHPExcel_Worksheet::protectCellsByColumnAndRow()`
+- `PHPExcel_Worksheet::removeColumnByIndex()`
+- `PHPExcel_Worksheet::setAutoFilterByColumnAndRow()`
+- `PHPExcel_Worksheet::setBreakByColumnAndRow()`
+- `PHPExcel_Worksheet::setCellValueByColumnAndRow()`
+- `PHPExcel_Worksheet::setCellValueExplicitByColumnAndRow()`
+- `PHPExcel_Worksheet::setSelectedCellByColumnAndRow()`
+- `PHPExcel_Worksheet::stringFromColumnIndex()`
+- `PHPExcel_Worksheet::unmergeCellsByColumnAndRow()`
+- `PHPExcel_Worksheet::unprotectCellsByColumnAndRow()`
+- `PHPExcel_Worksheet_PageSetup::addPrintAreaByColumnAndRow()`
+- `PHPExcel_Worksheet_PageSetup::setPrintAreaByColumnAndRow()`

samples/Basic/40_Duplicate_style.php

@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 $helper->log('Add data (begin)');
 $t = microtime(true);
-for ($col = 0; $col < 50; ++$col) {
+for ($col = 1; $col <= 50; ++$col) {
     for ($row = 0; $row < 100; ++$row) {
         $str = ($row + $col);
         $style = $styles[$row % 10];

src/PhpSpreadsheet/Calculation/Calculation.php

@@ -3496,7 +3496,7 @@ private function processTokenStack($tokens, $cellID = null, Cell $pCell = null)
                                 $oCol[] = Coordinate::columnIndexFromString($oCR[0]) - 1;
                                 $oRow[] = $oCR[1];
                             }
-                            $cellRef = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex(min($oCol)) . min($oRow) . ':' . Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex(max($oCol)) . max($oRow);
+                            $cellRef = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex(min($oCol) + 1) . min($oRow) . ':' . Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex(max($oCol) + 1) . max($oRow);
                             if ($pCellParent !== null) {
                                 $cellValue = $this->extractCellRange($cellRef, $this->spreadsheet->getSheetByName($sheet1), false);
                             } else {
@@ -3569,7 +3569,7 @@ private function processTokenStack($tokens, $cellID = null, Cell $pCell = null)
                                 $cellIntersect[$row] = array_intersect_key($operand1[$row], $operand2[$row]);
                             }
                         }
-                        $cellRef = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex(min($oCol)) . min($oRow) . ':' . Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex(max($oCol)) . max($oRow);
+                        $cellRef = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex(min($oCol) + 1) . min($oRow) . ':' . Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex(max($oCol) + 1) . max($oRow);
                         $this->debugLog->writeDebugLog('Evaluation Result is ', $this->showTypeDetails($cellIntersect));
                         $stack->push('Value', $cellIntersect, $cellRef);
 

src/PhpSpreadsheet/Calculation/LookupRef.php

@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ public static function cellAddress($row, $column, $relativity = 1, $referenceSty
         }
         if ((!is_bool($referenceStyle)) || $referenceStyle) {
             $rowRelative = $columnRelative = '$';
-            $column = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($column - 1);
+            $column = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($column);
             if (($relativity == 2) || ($relativity == 4)) {
                 $columnRelative = '';
             }
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ public static function OFFSET($cellAddress = null, $rows = 0, $columns = 0, $hei
         } else {
             $endCellColumn += $columns;
         }
-        $startCellColumn = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($startCellColumn);
+        $startCellColumn = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($startCellColumn + 1);
 
         if (($height != null) && (!is_object($height))) {
             $endCellRow = $startCellRow + $height - 1;
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ public static function OFFSET($cellAddress = null, $rows = 0, $columns = 0, $hei
         if (($endCellRow <= 0) || ($endCellColumn < 0)) {
             return Functions::REF();
         }
-        $endCellColumn = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($endCellColumn);
+        $endCellColumn = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($endCellColumn + 1);
 
         $cellAddress = $startCellColumn . $startCellRow;
         if (($startCellColumn != $endCellColumn) || ($startCellRow != $endCellRow)) {

src/PhpSpreadsheet/Cell/Coordinate.php

@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@
 
 use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Exception;
 
+/**
+ * Helper class to manipulate cell coordinates.
+ *
+ * Columns indexes and rows are always based on 1, **not** on 0. This match the behavior
+ * that Excel users are used to, and also match the Excel functions `COLUMN()` and `ROW()`.
+ */
 abstract class Coordinate
 {
     /**
@@ -240,7 +246,7 @@ public static function getRangeBoundaries($pRange)
      *
      * @param string $pString eg 'A'
      *
-     * @return int Column index (base 1 !!!)
+     * @return int Column index (A = 1)
      */
     public static function columnIndexFromString($pString)
     {
@@ -284,9 +290,9 @@ public static function columnIndexFromString($pString)
     }
 
     /**
-     * String from columnindex.
+     * String from column index.
      *
-     * @param int $columnIndex Column index (A = 0)
+     * @param int $columnIndex Column index (A = 1)
      *
      * @return string
      */
@@ -295,7 +301,7 @@ public static function stringFromColumnIndex($columnIndex)
         static $indexCache = [];
 
         if (!isset($indexCache[$columnIndex])) {
-            $indexValue = $columnIndex + 1;
+            $indexValue = $columnIndex;
             $base26 = null;
             do {
                 $characterValue = ($indexValue % 26) ?: 26;

src/PhpSpreadsheet/Collection/Cells.php

@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ public function getHighestColumn($row = null)
             $columnList[] = Coordinate::columnIndexFromString($c);
         }
 
-        return Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex(max($columnList) - 1);
+        return Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex(max($columnList) + 1);
     }
 
     /**

src/PhpSpreadsheet/Reader/Csv.php

@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ public function listWorksheetInfo($pFilename)
             $worksheetInfo[0]['lastColumnIndex'] = max($worksheetInfo[0]['lastColumnIndex'], count($rowData) - 1);
         }
 
-        $worksheetInfo[0]['lastColumnLetter'] = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($worksheetInfo[0]['lastColumnIndex']);
+        $worksheetInfo[0]['lastColumnLetter'] = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($worksheetInfo[0]['lastColumnIndex'] + 1);
         $worksheetInfo[0]['totalColumns'] = $worksheetInfo[0]['lastColumnIndex'] + 1;
 
         // Close file

src/PhpSpreadsheet/Reader/Gnumeric.php

@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ public function listWorksheetInfo($pFilename)
                         break;
                     }
                 }
-                $tmpInfo['lastColumnLetter'] = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($tmpInfo['lastColumnIndex']);
+                $tmpInfo['lastColumnLetter'] = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($tmpInfo['lastColumnIndex'] + 1);
                 $worksheetInfo[] = $tmpInfo;
             }
         }
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ public function loadIntoExisting($pFilename, Spreadsheet $spreadsheet)
                     $maxCol = $column;
                 }
 
-                $column = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($column);
+                $column = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($column + 1);
 
                 // Read cell?
                 if ($this->getReadFilter() !== null) {
@@ -472,11 +472,11 @@ public function loadIntoExisting($pFilename, Spreadsheet $spreadsheet)
                 $styleAttributes = $styleRegion->attributes();
                 if (($styleAttributes['startRow'] <= $maxRow) &&
                     ($styleAttributes['startCol'] <= $maxCol)) {
-                    $startColumn = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex((int) $styleAttributes['startCol']);
+                    $startColumn = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex((int) $styleAttributes['startCol'] + 1);
                     $startRow = $styleAttributes['startRow'] + 1;
 
                     $endColumn = ($styleAttributes['endCol'] > $maxCol) ? $maxCol : (int) $styleAttributes['endCol'];
-                    $endColumn = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($endColumn);
+                    $endColumn = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($endColumn + 1);
                     $endRow = ($styleAttributes['endRow'] > $maxRow) ? $maxRow : $styleAttributes['endRow'];
                     $endRow += 1;
                     $cellRange = $startColumn . $startRow . ':' . $endColumn . $endRow;
@@ -718,19 +718,19 @@ public function loadIntoExisting($pFilename, Spreadsheet $spreadsheet)
                     $hidden = ((isset($columnAttributes['Hidden'])) && ($columnAttributes['Hidden'] == '1')) ? true : false;
                     $columnCount = (isset($columnAttributes['Count'])) ? $columnAttributes['Count'] : 1;
                     while ($c < $column) {
-                        $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getColumnDimension(Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($c))->setWidth($defaultWidth);
+                        $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getColumnDimension(Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($c + 1))->setWidth($defaultWidth);
                         ++$c;
                     }
                     while (($c < ($column + $columnCount)) && ($c <= $maxCol)) {
-                        $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getColumnDimension(Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($c))->setWidth($columnWidth);
+                        $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getColumnDimension(Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($c + 1))->setWidth($columnWidth);
                         if ($hidden) {
-                            $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getColumnDimension(Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($c))->setVisible(false);
+                            $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getColumnDimension(Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($c + 1))->setVisible(false);
                         }
                         ++$c;
                     }
                 }
                 while ($c <= $maxCol) {
-                    $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getColumnDimension(Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($c))->setWidth($defaultWidth);
+                    $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getColumnDimension(Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($c + 1))->setWidth($defaultWidth);
                     ++$c;
                 }
             }

src/PhpSpreadsheet/Reader/Ods.php

@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ public function listWorksheetInfo($pFilename)
 
                     $tmpInfo['totalColumns'] = max($tmpInfo['totalColumns'], $currCells);
                     $tmpInfo['lastColumnIndex'] = $tmpInfo['totalColumns'] - 1;
-                    $tmpInfo['lastColumnLetter'] = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($tmpInfo['lastColumnIndex']);
+                    $tmpInfo['lastColumnLetter'] = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($tmpInfo['lastColumnIndex'] + 1);
                     $worksheetInfo[] = $tmpInfo;
                 }
             }
@@ -707,7 +707,7 @@ public function loadIntoExisting($pFilename, Spreadsheet $spreadsheet)
                                             $columnIndex += (int) $cellData->getAttributeNS($tableNs, 'number-columns-spanned');
                                             $columnIndex -= 2;
 
-                                            $columnTo = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($columnIndex);
+                                            $columnTo = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($columnIndex + 1);
                                         }
 
                                         $rowTo = $rowID;

src/PhpSpreadsheet/Reader/Slk.php

@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ public function listWorksheetInfo($pFilename)
             }
         }
 
-        $worksheetInfo[0]['lastColumnLetter'] = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($worksheetInfo[0]['lastColumnIndex']);
+        $worksheetInfo[0]['lastColumnLetter'] = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($worksheetInfo[0]['lastColumnIndex'] + 1);
         $worksheetInfo[0]['totalColumns'] = $worksheetInfo[0]['lastColumnIndex'] + 1;
 
         // Close file
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ public function loadIntoExisting($pFilename, Spreadsheet $spreadsheet)
                                         if ($columnReference[0] == '[') {
                                             $columnReference = $column + trim($columnReference, '[]');
                                         }
-                                        $A1CellReference = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($columnReference - 1) . $rowReference;
+                                        $A1CellReference = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($columnReference) . $rowReference;
 
                                         $value = substr_replace($value, $A1CellReference, $cellReference[0][1], strlen($cellReference[0][0]));
                                     }
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ public function loadIntoExisting($pFilename, Spreadsheet $spreadsheet)
                             break;
                     }
                 }
-                $columnLetter = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($column - 1);
+                $columnLetter = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($column);
                 $cellData = Calculation::unwrapResult($cellData);
 
                 // Set cell value
@@ -419,22 +419,22 @@ public function loadIntoExisting($pFilename, Spreadsheet $spreadsheet)
                     }
                 }
                 if (($formatStyle > '') && ($column > '') && ($row > '')) {
-                    $columnLetter = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($column - 1);
+                    $columnLetter = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($column);
                     if (isset($this->formats[$formatStyle])) {
                         $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle($columnLetter . $row)->applyFromArray($this->formats[$formatStyle]);
                     }
                 }
                 if ((!empty($styleData)) && ($column > '') && ($row > '')) {
-                    $columnLetter = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($column - 1);
+                    $columnLetter = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($column);
                     $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle($columnLetter . $row)->applyFromArray($styleData);
                 }
                 if ($columnWidth > '') {
                     if ($startCol == $endCol) {
-                        $startCol = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($startCol - 1);
+                        $startCol = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($startCol);
                         $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getColumnDimension($startCol)->setWidth($columnWidth);
                     } else {
-                        $startCol = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($startCol - 1);
-                        $endCol = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($endCol - 1);
+                        $startCol = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($startCol);
+                        $endCol = Coordinate::stringFromColumnIndex($endCol);
                         $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getColumnDimension($startCol)->setWidth($columnWidth);
                         do {
                             $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getColumnDimension(++$startCol)->setWidth($columnWidth);