Non-positional cell formulas?

[Private Person]

Ok, I have a spreadsheet with multiple columns, for example:

Date | spanning header1 | spanner header2 |
spanning header3 | Average header |
| subhead1a | subhead1b | subhead2a | subhead2b | subhead3a |
subhead3b | |
date | s1adata | s1bdata | s2adata | s2bdata |
s3adata | s3bdata | average s1a,s2a,s3a |

Now for every row, I need to calculate the subtotal data.

No problem with the formula (like in =AVERAGE(B3,D3,F3)). The next line's
formula would be =AVERAGE(B4,D4,F4).

The problem is that I don't want to have to enter the "hard-coded" reference
to each column unique to each line (since I potentially have a hundred rows
of data) I would like just duplicate the formula in each line and let Excel
figure out the relative columns.

I THINK variable names might be the solution, but is there a better way
and/or a built-in way to handle this seemingly simple problem?

Thanks,

Marc

 

[Ken Wright]

You don't need to. Type the formula in one cell as you have done and then
select that cell and do Edit / Copy. Now select the range you wish to fill with
the formula and do Edit / paste and it will all adjust automatically.

Shortcuts include just grabbing the little black cross at the bottom right of
the cell and dragging down, or just doubleclicking that same little black
square.