How to control cell references when copying a formula?

[rmmshost]

Hi,

I'm not even sure how to describe this problem, so bear with me ;-)

Here's a (hopefully) clear example of what I'm trying to do:

I'm working with 6 columns of data which are divided into groups of 3, so
there is data in A1:C1 and E1:G1. In cell I1, I sum A1:C1 and THEN I copy
over this formula to the next cell, J1, because I want to sum the other 3
cells, E1:G1.

Here's the issue: When I copy over the formula from I1 to J1 (one column)
the cell reference in the formula also moves only one column and ends up
trying to sum B11. Of course, this is working as it should but I really
need to find a way to make the cell reference refer to E1:G1 when I copy it
over. (By the way, I'm providing this extremely simplified version for
demonstration purposes.)

Can anyone help with this? Let me know if you need any clarifications on
what I'm trying to do.

Thanks!

 

[Dave F]

You're talking about absolute versus relative references. Absolute
references anchor the reference and don't change it as the formula is copied;
relative references change as the formula is copied.

In your example, if you want a formula always to sum E1:G1, write it like
this: =SUM($E$1:$G$1) The $ signs indicate absolute references; E1:G1 is a
relative reference.

Dave

 

[Joel]

the $ locks the row or column when copying. There is 4 ways of referencing a
cell. a formula can contain many celss refereces, wher some will have $ and
other won't.

A1 - when copied both the column and row changes
$A1 - Only the row changes, not the column
A$1 - Only the column changes, now the row
$A$1 - Neither the Row or Columns changes

 

[rmmshost]

Dave and Joel,

Thanks very much for the fast response but that's not what I'm referring to.
I want the opposite of anchoring/absolute references, I want to cell
references to CHANGE when I copy it over. If I copy the formula over to the
next column it also moves the cell reference one column, but I need a way for
the reference to move more than one column.

Have a look at my original example and let me know if I need to explain
anything further.

Thanks!

 

[Joel]

I don't know how well you know excel. but I have don't similar thing by
using the offet function, row(), or column() functtions

if you want to duble you row spacing. You can do something like this

offset(c1, 2 * (row(A3) - row(A1)),0)

 

[David Biddulph]

Put
=SUM(OFFSET($A1,0,3*(COLUMN()-COLUMN($I1)),1,3))
into I1, and copy into J1.

 

[Pete_UK]

Perhaps the simplest way is instead of copying the formula from I1 to
J1 you should copy it to L1 instead. Then you can either CUT/Paste the
formula from L1 into J1 or you can delete the cells between I1 and L1
to get the two formulae next to each other.

You can use Offset to do this, but the method I describe is very
quick.

Hope this helps.

Pete

 

[rmmshost]

thanks david and joel, i had found the offset function but wasn't confident
that that would help. looks like it's the best way to go. thanks again!

 

[rmmshost]

thanks pete, when i'm only dealing with a couple of calculations manually
changing the references is no big deal, but as it grows to dozens of refs it
gets a bit more daunting (and annoying! ;-)