Excel® 2010 Workbook for Dummies®

Chapter 7. Copying and Correcting Formulas

In This Chapter

• Copying formulas with relative cell references

• Copying formulas with absolute cell references

• Copying formulas with mixed cell references

• Using range names in formulas

• Creating array formulas

• Tracing and eliminating formula errors

• Dealing with circular references in a formula

Copying an original formula to all the cells in a worksheet that perform the same type of computation is one of the more common tasks you perform as part of creating a new spreadsheet. Despite this fact, understanding just how Excel goes about adjusting the cell references when you copy a formula is not widespread among new users. The exercises in this chapter give you a chance to practice copying formulas using all the different types of cell references. In addition, you practice assigning range names to the cells that are referenced in spreadsheet formulas, creating array formulas that do away with the need for making formula copies, as well as tracing and eliminating the source of errors that have spread across the workbook.

Copying Formulas with Relative References

When your original formula uses cell references rather than constant values (as most should), Excel makes copying that formula to every place that requires the same type of computation a complete no-brainer. The program does this by automatically adjusting the cell references in the original formula to suit the position of the copies you make. It does this through a system known as relative cell ...