Copy an Excel formula without changing its cell references

by Mary Ann Richardson | Oct 31, 2006 8:00:00 AM

Tags: Microsoft Office, Mary Ann Richardson, Microsoft Excel, cell reference, Microsoft Office Suite Excel Tips Newsletter

Takeaway: If you copy a formula from one place to another, Excel will want to readjust the references to reflect the change. However, if you want the formulas to stay the same, Mary Ann Richardson can help end the confusion.

When working with a spreadsheet, when you copy a formula to another location, Excel automatically adjusts the cell references in that formula to the new location. If you do not want to have Excel adjust the cell references, you would have to make them absolute before copying them. Or, you could copy the formula to the clipboard as text before pasting it to its new location. Follow these steps:

1. Click on the cell containing the formula you want to copy.

2. Press [F2].
3. Click and drag to select the entire formula.
4. Click the Copy button in the Standard toolbar.
5. Press [Enter].
6. Select the cell into which you want to paste the formula.
7. Click the Paste button in the Standard toolbar.

When you copy an Excel formula in this manner, the formula copies as text and will not adjust its cell reference. You can also copy part of a formula this way. For example, you may want to include the formula as part of an If statement in another part of the worksheet.

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Print/View all Posts Comments on this article

Absolute references gbramley@... | 11/01/06

Range of Formulas OrangeBull | 11/01/06

Now that is interesting... Only if you ask nicely | 11/01/06

Thanks! gio@... | 11/01/06

How to teach an end user? spjeff@... | 02/07/07

Range of Formulas mary.stranghoener@... | 06/09/08

Awesome! pixelsyl@... | 09/26/08

ASAP utilities have this and 300 other functions..Free!! medler1@... | 11/01/06

Named Ranges david.turpin@... | 11/01/06

Absolute references sms2@... | 11/01/06

It is a easy Step ram_viswa2004@... | 12/22/06

Another way to do this ernst_berger@... | 02/22/07

Copy an Excel formula without changing its cell references karansoin | 11/01/06

Referencing a single cell in mutiple formulas. lami50@... | 11/01/06

A Good Shortcut Richard Noel | 11/01/06

=$a1+b$2 Absolutely | 12/28/06

f4 will put the $ sign in jdclyde | 12/28/06

F4 is for beginners Absolutely | 01/03/07

Transfer Formula Results To As Raw Data Fidel@... | 05/11/07

Use F4 to create absolute reference rlasker@... | 11/01/06

You are missing the point... Only if you ask nicely | 11/01/06

Copying formulas without changing cell references peternp | 11/22/06

here here ttocsmij | 11/28/06

What about multiple cells spjeff@... | 02/07/07

Replace trick for copying references as text in multiple cells Diaz.RobertRichard@... | 09/11/08

F4 and F2 -- two new tricks Level | 11/01/06

F4 Toggle: Good Tip! Doug Lowry | 11/01/06

Ditto: Thanks for the Great Tip JamieM | 11/01/06

Good tip. inalt@... | 11/01/06

converting to text. zylstra@... | 11/01/06

Converting to text works well! fractalzoom | 11/01/06

F4 toggle key Daiquiria | 11/01/06

Formula or result techr@... | 11/01/06

Why Press F2? The Bobinator | 11/01/06

Copying in Excel brucelloyd@... | 11/06/06

Simple drag and drop DBlayney | 11/22/06

We need a man law The Bobinator | 11/22/06

I like the keyboard michaelvdnest | 12/20/06

Very helpful michaelc@... | 11/24/06

VisiCalc was quite flexible in this regard. deepsand | 12/21/06