Use of column() function

Edward,

your right, that is how the column() function is used. If you have a formula where you need to specify a number value, for example the formula looks in a certain column, say column H to pick up the invoice figure for that day, and you know you need to copy that formula to the right so it can pick up the invoice totals from I, J, K, L.
If you typed the column number in e.g. 8 as column H is the eighth column from the left, then after copying to the right, you'd have to go into each formula copied, and change the column number manually to 9, 10, 11 etc...
So if we replace that number 8 with the function Column(H3), excel see's it as a number 8 (remember the column function ignores the row number part! Its only interested in the H part.
Now, as this function and its cell ref H3 is RELATIVE, as we move the original formula across the sheet, the H3 in the Column function will change to I3, J3, K3 etc.. which in turn references the numbers 9, 10, 11 etc..

Sorry its a long explaination, if you need more help let me know.