Find and Replace - locking cell references

**Terri Earley** · 10-15-2014, 11:48 AM

I have 572 rows of a formula that I need to copy over to 20 columns, but I need to lock down a cell reference and I can't get Find/Replace to do it for me.

So, the formula looks like this ($D$2,$D$3,H2,F2) and copies down all the way to ($D$2,$D$3,H572,F572). I need the F cell reference to be locked before I copy the columns over. I tried highlighting the entire column and searching for FIND F and REPLACE $F$ - but I received a formula error. When I tried FIND F5 and REPLACE $F$5 it worked ... but the number portion is different in each row!

I don't have to lock all the cells individually do I?

any advice?

**mcmahobt** · 10-15-2014, 11:52 AM

If the formula is only applied to one column, can you edit the initial formula, drag it back down through all the rows, then drag over?

**ChemistB** · 10-15-2014, 11:59 AM

As per mcmahobt's comment, start with

($D$2,$D$3,H2,$F2)
The F's will remain constant if you copy across but the row numbers will change as you copy down.

**Terri Earley** · 10-15-2014, 12:09 PM

That is why I pose these questions .... because someone has a quick answer while I am working through a complicated method. Yes - I did have to lock and unlock another reference before copying down - but it worked. Thanks so much.