Horizontal / vertical - drag formula

Will you please attach a SMALL sample Excel workbook (10-20 rows of data is usually enough)? However, please give us an indication of the approximate number of rows of data you want the solution to work with (100, 1000, 100,000 or whatever). Please don't attach a picture of an Excel sheet (no-one will want to re-type all your stuff before starting).

1. It does NOT have to be your real sheet - mock up a SAMPLE if you need to. But not 1000's of rows!!! It makes manual checking so tedious. Whatever you do... make sure that all confidential information is removed first!!

2. Make sure that your sample data are truly REPRESENTATIVE of your real data. The use of unrepresentative data is very frustrating and can lead to long delays in reaching a solution.

3. Make sure that your desired solution is also shown (mock up the results manually).

4. Try to avoid using merged cells. They cause lots of problems!

Unfortunately the attachment icon doesn't work at the moment. So, to attach an Excel file you have to do the following: Just before posting, scroll down to Go Advanced and then scroll down to Manage Attachments. Now follow the instructions at the top of that screen.

Yes - you need to understand an implement relative referencing: https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/excel20...-references/1/

You need to hardcore the references in the formula and then drag it to the right and down. Example:
=VLOOKUP(D3,H3:H7,1,0) - this will not work, as the references will change.
$D3 - This will lock the column reference to only D column
D$3 - This will lock the row reference to only 3rd row
$D$3 - This will lock both the column and the row
Do the same with H3:H7.

Pressing F4 on keyboard will lock them:
Once - Both row and column reference
Twice - The row reference
Trice - The column reference

Do you guys know how to drag the same formula horizontally and then vertically without typing the formula manually first in the first row and then dragging it down?

How is it related with the mock file?

I did attach the mock, but to put it in an easier way: The formula for C1 is the same as B2, the formula for D1 is the same as for C2, formula E1=D2 and so forth.

You do not have formulas in the mentioned cells

Paul - I am very glad you posted this. I thought I was losing the plot when I looked at the sample workbook.

DGRRGD - please attach a sample workbook that matches your query.

1. Delete row 19.

2. Use this in E3, copied across to H1:
=$B4+COLUMNS($A:A)-1

3. Select cells E3 to H4. Copy.

4. Select E3 to H18. Paste.

Done.