Absolute and Relative cell referencing

Absolute and Relative cell referencing

1. Relative:

   • When a formula is copied/replicated to another cell, it alters any cell references it contains relative to the position of the original formula.
   • Advantages:
     • Can quickly be copied to a range of other cells
     • Will automatically update itself
   • Disadvantages:
     • Any mistake made in the formula will be replicated to those that have been copied from the original formula.
     • If a formula is referencing just one cell, it will not stay in that cell once copied to other cells.
     • If a change is made to the original formula, it will need to be recopied.

2. Absolute:

   • When a formula is replicated to other cells, any part of the formula that contain an absolute cell reference will remain static when it is copied.
   • $
   • Dragging down vertically: In front of row number e.g. =D4*F$2
   • Dragging horizontally: In front of column letter e.g. =A4*$G5
   • Advantages:
     • The 'absolute' part wont change even if copied.
     • Just one cell needs to be changed in order to update all that are related with a formula.
   • Disadvantages:
     • A change will affect all cells which you may not want to happen.
     • It is more complicated, be careful where you put the dollar signs.