Can you have fixed cell reference when dragging/copying formulae?

[ducksfolly]

When you drag or copy a formula which refers to another cell, then that
cell's reference is updated when the formula is dragged or copied across a
spreadsheet. Is it possible to 'fix' the reference of the outside cell such
that the formula refers to a fixed cell irrespective of where the formula is
copied to?
For example a formual in cell B2 containing a reference to cell A1 will
always refer to the cell immediately above and to the left when copied
elsewhere. Is it possible for the formula to be forced to refer to cell A1
irrespective of where it is copied?

[Dave Peterson]

You can use $a$1 in the formula.

If you use a $ in front of the row or column, then that portion of the address
won't change when you copy the formula.

$a1 would allow the row number to change
a$1 would allow the column to change
a1 would allow both to change
$a$1 wouldn't change.

Look at excel's help for Absolute and relative references.

ducksfolly wrote:
>
> When you drag or copy a formula which refers to another cell, then that
> cell's reference is updated when the formula is dragged or copied across a
> spreadsheet. Is it possible to 'fix' the reference of the outside cell such
> that the formula refers to a fixed cell irrespective of where the formula is
> copied to?
> For example a formual in cell B2 containing a reference to cell A1 will
> always refer to the cell immediately above and to the left when copied
> elsewhere. Is it possible for the formula to be forced to refer to cell A1
> irrespective of where it is copied?

--

Dave Peterson

Hi

Have a look for 'absolute and relative' cell references. You use the $ sign
to indicate which part of the reference stays static.
In your example, you'd use
=$A$1
and this would then stay the same wherever it was copied.

Andy.

"ducksfolly" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> When you drag or copy a formula which refers to another cell, then that
> cell's reference is updated when the formula is dragged or copied across a
> spreadsheet. Is it possible to 'fix' the reference of the outside cell
> such
> that the formula refers to a fixed cell irrespective of where the formula
> is
> copied to?
> For example a formual in cell B2 containing a reference to cell A1 will
> always refer to the cell immediately above and to the left when copied
> elsewhere. Is it possible for the formula to be forced to refer to cell A1
> irrespective of where it is copied?

[ducksfolly]

Dave

Thank you very much for that. I had a feeling it would be bleeding obvious!

Anthony Goddard



"Dave Peterson" wrote:

> You can use $a$1 in the formula.
>
> If you use a $ in front of the row or column, then that portion of the address
> won't change when you copy the formula.
>
> $a1 would allow the row number to change
> a$1 would allow the column to change
> a1 would allow both to change
> $a$1 wouldn't change.
>
> Look at excel's help for Absolute and relative references.
>
> ducksfolly wrote:
> >
> > When you drag or copy a formula which refers to another cell, then that
> > cell's reference is updated when the formula is dragged or copied across a
> > spreadsheet. Is it possible to 'fix' the reference of the outside cell such
> > that the formula refers to a fixed cell irrespective of where the formula is
> > copied to?
> > For example a formual in cell B2 containing a reference to cell A1 will
> > always refer to the cell immediately above and to the left when copied
> > elsewhere. Is it possible for the formula to be forced to refer to cell A1
> > irrespective of where it is copied?
>
> --
>
> Dave Peterson
>

[ducksfolly]

Andy

Thank you very much for that. I had a feeling it would be bleeding obvious!

Anthony Goddard


"Andy" wrote:

> Hi
>
> Have a look for 'absolute and relative' cell references. You use the $ sign
> to indicate which part of the reference stays static.
> In your example, you'd use
> =$A$1
> and this would then stay the same wherever it was copied.
>
> Andy.
>
> "ducksfolly" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > When you drag or copy a formula which refers to another cell, then that
> > cell's reference is updated when the formula is dragged or copied across a
> > spreadsheet. Is it possible to 'fix' the reference of the outside cell
> > such
> > that the formula refers to a fixed cell irrespective of where the formula
> > is
> > copied to?
> > For example a formual in cell B2 containing a reference to cell A1 will
> > always refer to the cell immediately above and to the left when copied
> > elsewhere. Is it possible for the formula to be forced to refer to cell A1
> > irrespective of where it is copied?
>
>
>