formula wont copy across to other cells correctly

[chrissywhittle]

I have a formula in say column D & have copied it across to various
other columns, the thing is is that the copied cells do not have the
same formula as in cell D (it adds a column instead of copyin the
formula) thank you in advance

 

[Doug Kanter]

Exactly what keystrokes or mouse actions are you using to copy the formulas?

"chrissywhittle"

 

[chrissywhittle]

edit - copy - paste
right click copy - paste or paste special

 

[Doug Kanter]

OK. And, you say it "adds a column". Do you mean that (for instance), if you
had column F and column G, an actual column is inserted between them, as if
you had used the Insert, Column menu commands? Or, that the column numbers
are changing when you copy the formulae across?

"chrissywhittle"

 

[chrissywhittle]

sorry, the column numbers change:

say i have an amount i wish to multiply by in row 5B and in colums c,d,
etc have different values, i wish to use row 5b as my mulitipliction
'master'. the same formula will be used throughout all coloumns the
only change being the different values in columns c,d,etc. thank you

 

[Doug Kanter]

OK. When you copy a formula, Excel increments ("steps") cell numbers in a
relative way. In other words, if you type =A1+4 in cell B1, Excel really
sees that as "look one cell to the left", not necessarily as A1. When you
copy the formula across the row, it'll change the A1 to B1, C1, etc. To stop
this behavior, add a dollar sign to the original formula: =$A1+4. This is
called an absolute reference.

"chrissywhittle"

 

[L. Howard Kittle]

Hi chrissywhittle,

To add to Doug's replies. Type a formula in any cell such as =A1. You can
use F4 to toggle through the different styles of absolute references. =$A1,
=A$1, =$A$1.

HTH
Regards,
Howard

"chrissywhittle"

 

[chrissywhittle]

thank you all so very much

 

[chrissywhittle]

thank you all so very much it worked for a while yet it is still doing
it
the formula has changed the original column say my original formula is
=sum($B3*C15) I would like the same formula along the rest of the row
being ($B3&d15),b3*e15, b3*f15 etc.... but its not working it will
change the formula

 

[chrissywhittle]

sorry im a complete doughnut! - i was writing the formula incorrectly -
sorry!!!!

 

[Doug Kanter]

"chrissywhittle"

sorry im a complete doughnut! - i was writing the formula incorrectly -
sorry!!!!

I was about to say "THINK!", but you got it.