Linked cells

[Guest]

How do I keep a group of cells together with a cell that has been linked to a
cell in a separate worksheet? For example, I have a worksheet that lists
various tasks. In a second worksheet, these tasks are broken apart and steps
are listed to perform each one (in table formats). I have also linked the
"task cells" together (i.e a cell C5 in worksheet #2 equals cell B3 in
worksheet #1). I want to be able to keep the task and the steps together,
and the tasks are listed in the same order as the first worksheet. If the
tasks in the original worksheet are moved around in a different order, how do
I keep the tasks/steps in the second worksheet in the same order?


Is it possible to even keep the tasks in worksheet #2 in the same order as
those in worksheet #1 that they're linked to?

 

[Dave Peterson]

I think you're doomed for failure by just linking cells--as soon as you sort
your data, all heck breaks loose.

But if it's possible, you might be able to use a different formula:

If you can find a key column in both your table worksheet and the "results"
worksheet--no duplicates in the table data, maybe you could use =vlookup().

Debra Dalgleish has nice instructions at:
http://www.contextures.com/xlFunctions02.html

The =vlookup() will look for a match--so the sorting won't hurt.

 

[Guest]

The only reason I linked the cells is because I need them to say the same
thing (and, if possible, be in the same order) and I thought this would
eliminate a lot of typing and other changes later.

 

[Dave Peterson]

Until you sort, it works nicely.

If you want to update cells at the same address (like A3 of lots of worksheets),
you can click on the first worksheet tab, then ctrl-click on the subsequent
tabs.

Making a change to any of the worksheets in that group changes each worksheet in
that group.

Remember to ungroup them (rightclick on the tab and choose Ungroup Sheets). It
can be a disaster waiting to happen if you don't notice that you've still got
them grouped.