$ Symbol

B

Big Rick

Please can someone explain in laymans terms why the $ symbol before a cell
reference in a formula makes a difference.

Thanking you in anticipation.
 
D

David Billigmeier

It will create an absolute reference. Let's say you have a cell reference
pointing to A1... If you drag that down to the next cell the reference will
change to A2. However, if you put dollar signs around the reference (i.e.
A$1) and drag down it will still reference A1.
 
B

Bob Phillips

I'll try <g>

When you copy a formula from one cell to another, if there is no $, Excel
updates any cell references in that formula relative to its destination
cell.

So, If A1 has the formula =IF(B1>7,C1,D1)

and you copy that to B7, the formula that ends up un B7 is =IF(C7>7,D7,E7)

Notice the columns have shunted acros 1, the rows down 6.

If the formula were =IF($B$1>7, $C$1,$D$1), the formula that ends up in B7
would be exactly the same.

Sometimes you want absolut ($$), sometimes relative, sometimes a mix.
 
B

Big Rick

Many thanks for you quick responce.
--
Big Rick


David Billigmeier said:
It will create an absolute reference. Let's say you have a cell reference
pointing to A1... If you drag that down to the next cell the reference will
change to A2. However, if you put dollar signs around the reference (i.e.
A$1) and drag down it will still reference A1.
Click to expand...
 
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