Forumla which refers to a cell which refers to a sheet name

Hello,

I have a workbook with many worksheets which all have very unique names. Certain data from each sheet is collected onto one sheet for an overview. On the overview sheet, I would like to be able to type the following function, =SUM('A2'!L$23:L$25), where A2 refers to a cell which has the same name as the sheet of interest. This way I do not have to type in the sheet name in all the overview cells. Obviously this formula will not work, as I have tried. Any ideas on a formula which will accomplish what i am looking for? Below is a sample of my overview sheet, where the numbers 78 and 46 exist on a sheet with the same name as Sheet Name. So instead of typing =SUM('Sheet Name'!,L$23:L$25), I would like to type something like =SUM('A2'!L$23:L$25). This way I only have to type the sheet name once and i can drag down the above formula and it will automatically select the data from the sheet name which my formula references.


Sheet Name 11/4/2012 78 46

Thanks
Andy

Thanks for the reply. Maybe my use of "refers" in my original post was misleading. The cell which "refers" to a sheet name is actually a cell which I have typed in the same name as the sheet name, so technically it does not refer to the sheet name. Maybe that is the reason that the INDIRECT funtion is not working for me.
A B
1 Name Value
2 Andy 10
3 Bob 20

So current formula for B2 would be ='Andy'!C38 and forumla for B3 would be ='Bob'!C38. The names are typed in by me and I change the sheet tab name to match. It would be great if I could just put in ='A2'!C38 and it would result in 10 and ='A3'!C38 would result in 20. Should the INDIRECT funtion work and I am misusing it or is there a different way that I must go about it?

Appreciate the help

I apologize, but the forum skewed my table that i typed in. Name and Value are columns A and B respectively.

If you always want to get the data from cell C38 in whichever sheet, then you can put this in B2:

=INDIRECT("'"&A2&"'!C38")

then copy down as far as you need to.

Hope this helps.

Pete

Hi awiller2,

Alan is correct, you should be using the INDIRECT function.

Quick lesson: the indirect function reads in a text value, but looks at it like a formula...

So if A2=Andy, then in B2, you should type =INDIRECT(A2&"!C38") [This is equivalent to simply typing =Andy!C38

If you notice the inside of the INDIRECT function is a text that returns: Andy!C38 and with the indirect function, you should get 10.

Notice that if your tab names have spaces, then you have to have single quotes within the INDIRECT function... so in general, your forumula should be
=INDIRECT("'"&A2&"'!C38")


Let us know if you still don't follow...

re-post: you are right Moo... you guys are fast!

I think we are all fishing for the same threads that we can respond to - I'll take a coffe break now to give you a chance !! <bg>

Pete

Awesome! Yes, that works great! Can't thank you all enough.

Cheers!