Can Excel recognise cell contents as a cell reference

[sincln21]

I would like to calculate the average of the last [10] values in a regularly
expanding range. Can I make Excel recognise a concatenated cell contents
(e.g. G26) as a cell name so that I can include this cell as one part of the
range for the average calculation? Or, how can I achieve the aim otherwise?

 

[Niek Otten]

Yes, look in HELP for the INDIRECT() function

 

[Chip Pearson]

The following array formula averages the last 10 elements in a list
beginning in cell A3.


=AVERAGE(OFFSET($A$3,MAX(ROW($A$3:$A$1000)*($A$3:$A$1000<>""))-ROW($A$3)-10+1,0,10,1))

Change the reference to $A$3 to the first cell of your data and change
$A$3:$A$1000 to a range larger than you data will ever use.

Since this is an Array Formula, you *must* press CTRL SHIFT ENTER
rather than just ENTER when you first enter the formula
and whenever you edit it later. If you do this properly,
Excel will display the formula in the Formula Bar enclosed
in curly braces { }. (You do not type the curly braces -
Excel includes them automatically.) The formula will not work
properly if you do not use CTRL SHIFT ENTER. See
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/ArrayFormulas.aspx for lots
more information about array formulas.

Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft Most Valuable Professional
Excel Product Group, 1998 - 2009
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com
(email on web site)