<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Relative versus absolute cell references

Cell references in calculations can be entered either as relative cell references (like =A1) or as absolute cell references (like =$A$1).

This section explains the difference between relative and absolute cell addressing:

Relative cell references

When you enter a reference to another cell into a formula, normally relative cell addressing is used.

An example: You enter the following formula in cell B3:

=B1+B2

PlanMaker does not interpret this as "Add B1 and B2", but rather as "Add the values in the two cells that are directly above cell B3".

You will notice this when you copy or move cell B3 to C3. PlanMaker then adapts the formula immediately:

=C1+C2

Absolute cell references

If you do not want formulas to automatically adapt when they are copied or moved, use absolute cell addressing instead of relative cell addressing. To make a relative cell reference absolute, type a dollar sign ($) in front of the column number and/or row number. Optionally, you can classify complete cell addresses as absolute (e.g. $B$1) or just one component of it (e.g., $B1 or B$1).

An absolute cell reference always refers to the original cell address, no matter where you move the cell with the formula afterwards.

For example: =$B$1 + $B$2

If you enter this formula in cell B3 and move this cell to C3, PlanMaker will still refer to cells B1 and B2.

Tip: Using the F4 key to change cell addressing

When you enter a cell reference in a formula, you can use the F4 key to switch the type of addressing.

For example, after having typed =A4,

=$A4 will be displayed, when you press F4,

=A$4 will be displayed, when you press F4 once again,

=$A$4 will be displayed, when you press F4 once again.

If you press F4 once again, the old entry =A4 will be displayed again.