Question about "$" function

[Julie P.]

Hi, what does the "$"-symbol in a formula do?

For example, if I type:

=$B$1*A2

Does the "$"-symbol before "B" and "1" guarantee that the formula will
always refer to that particular cell, no matter where I copy it to? For
example, if I want to copy that column to another location, but I always
want the formula to refer to the top cell in the column that has just been
pasted into the new location.

Or does the "$"-symbol guarantee that the formula will always refer to
whatever is in "B1"?

If the former, how do I accomplish the latter; and if the latter, how do I
accomplish the former?

Thanks!

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
see:
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/relative.htm

 

[Julie P.]

Hi
see:
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/relative.htm

Hi Frank, thanks for your answer! I read that webpage, so I guess my
question is how do I make a formula always refer to the head cell of a
column?

In other words, say if I have a sales tax rate in A1, and I want the formula
in all the other cells in A to refer to A1. But then say I want to copy the
A column to column D. The formula will still refer to A1 if I use the "$"
symbol, but I actually want it to refer to D1 instead. How do I do this? If
I omit the "$" symbol, then the reference to B1 will still be in my formula
in column D. Do you see what I mean?

Thanks,

Julie

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
refer to
$D$1

 

[Julie P.]

Hi
refer to
$D$1

Hi, thanks! But then if I were to copy that to another column then, it would
still refer to D1, but I would want it to refer to the head cell of whatever
column it were copied to.

J.

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
then use
=D$1

 

[Niek Otten]

Hi Julie,

Use D$1

--

Kind Regards,

Niek Otten

Microsoft MVP - Excel