Microsoft Excel | Page Four | Absolute Reference

Guidelines focus on formulae (pl) but you might also endeavour to apply formatting (illustrated) where appropriate.

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Absolute Reference

A formula (B2, B3) can be set by including an absolute reference ($), to ensure that the reference to either the column (across), the row (down), or both, remain fixed if copied.

In the following illustration the reference to column B would naturally remain the same if copied down because the formula would still apply to that column. However, the reference to row 1 would automatically update to row 2, 3 and so on, consequently has been fixed in this example with the dollar symbol ($1) to ensure that it doesn't change (down).

The absolute reference has been used here because the formula (at B2 and B3 (above)) refer to a fixed element (at B1) – a component that must not change if copied down.

A reference to a column might be fixed to ensure that it isn't automatically updated (across) to C, D, E, F etc.

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