
The table below summarizes how a reference type updates if a formula containing the reference is copied two cells down and two cells to the right. Press F4 to switch between the reference types. In the formula bar, select the reference that you want to change. Select the cell that contains the formula. Less often, you may want to mixed absolute and relative cell references by preceding either the column or the row value with a dollar sign-which fixes either the column or the row (for example, $B4 or C$4). Then, when you copy the formula =$B$4*$C$4 from D4 to D5, the formula stays exactly the same. If you want to maintain the original cell reference in this example when you copy it, you make the cell reference absolute by preceding the columns (B and C) and row (2) with a dollar sign ( $). When you copy a formula that contains a relative cell reference, that reference in the formula will change.Īs an example, if you copy the formula =B4*C4 from cell D4 to D5, the formula in D5 adjusts to the right by one column and becomes =B5*C5. If, for example, you refer to cell A2 from cell C2, you are actually referring to a cell that is two columns to the left (C minus A)-in the same row (2). If, for example, you refer to cell A2 from cell C2, you are actually referring to a cell that is two columns to the left (C minus A)in the same row (2). Lessīy default, a cell reference is a relative reference, which means that the reference is relative to the location of the cell. By default, a cell reference is a relative reference, which means that the reference is relative to the location of the cell. Excel for Microsoft 365 Excel for the web Excel 2021 Excel 2019 Excel 2016 Excel 2013 Excel Web App Excel 2010 Excel 2007 More.
