Forum Discussion

Copper Contributor

May 16, 2021

Solved

Relative cell reference problem

Completely new to Excel formulas. I'm using Excel 2010 on Windows 10 64-bit. I am trying to do a simple add and subtract operation using a formula, but when I copy and paste the formula, it does no...

Formulas and Functions

Riny_van_Eekelen
May 16, 2021
rwadleigh Your understanding of the workings of the $ is correct. When you drag or copy/paste a cell downwards, the row references should update automatically. You are not, by any chance copying from the formula bar? Because then the updating does not happen.

Since you mentioned to be completely new to Excel formulas, allow me to comment on the formula in question. You don't need the SUM function and it isn't really very meaningful. -$E3+$E3 = zero and can thus be omitted. You may use =$G2 to achieve the same outcome.

Riny_van_Eekelen

Platinum Contributor

May 16, 2021

rwadleigh Your understanding of the workings of the $ is correct. When you drag or copy/paste a cell downwards, the row references should update automatically. You are not, by any chance copying from the formula bar? Because then the updating does not happen.

Since you mentioned to be completely new to Excel formulas, allow me to comment on the formula in question. You don't need the SUM function and it isn't really very meaningful. -$E3+$E3 = zero and can thus be omitted. You may use =$G2 to achieve the same outcome.

rwadleigh

Copper Contributor

May 17, 2021

A new but related problem. I have a series of consecutive table rows with this formula. I have to add a row back in the middle of what I've already entered. The usual copy/paste works on that row, but the references in the following rows don't update. How do I get the rest of the table to increment their row references?

Riny_van_Eekelen
Platinum Contributor
May 17, 2021
rwadleigh "Add a row back"?? Not sure I follow. Can you upload an example of what you are trying to achieve and indicating what doesn't seem to work?