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Automatic Absolute referencing

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    Automatic Absolute referencing

    The other day, I was teaching a class on Vlookups and emphasized the importance of making the table_array absolute prior to copying the formula if they're not using named ranges. 2 members of my class panicked and said they'd never done this, but didn't recall their results being inaccurate. When they demonstrated their workbook to me, the formula was automatically created with absolute referencing, which was why there was no issue. When I demonstrated on my machine, the reference was relative. We tried to referencing other worksheets and had the same results. My question is, is there a setting to make absolute referencing the default or am I missing something else?

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    Re: Automatic Absolute referencing

    Hi,

    Relative Reference is the default when selecting a range in/for a formula.

    After some research it seems paste link uses an absolute reference. See:
    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/o...e5af2ed?auth=1
    One test is worth a thousand opinions.
    Click the * Add Reputation below to say thanks.

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    Re: Automatic Absolute referencing

    In the example I explained above, when my user(s) created the reference in the Function Wizard, the reference was automatically absolute. This was prior to copying the formula. Is there a possible setting that the user could have changed?

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    Re: Automatic Absolute referencing

    I do not recall any settings or anything to "control" this behavior of Excel. I see two "default" behaviors in Excel:

    1) Relative reference is the default when creating references to any cell/range in the same workbook.
    2) Absolute referencing is the default when creating a reference to a cell/range in a different workbook.

    Is it possible that this latter scenario is at play here?
    Quote Originally Posted by shg
    Mathematics is the native language of the natural world. Just trying to become literate.

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    Re: Automatic Absolute referencing

    Thank you for brining this up. This was the case...referencing an external sheet. That solves the mystery right there!

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