How to create a cell reference in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet? Step by step guide

Excel is one of the computer programs of the Office package more complete than there is. If you learn to use it correctly, you will discover that offers endless benefits and that you can execute all kinds of tasks in spreadsheets.

However, learning to use the program is not as easy as it sounds. In this particular post we want to talk in depth about what is a cell reference in Excel, what it is for and how to create one without major inconveniences.

With the help of cell references, the user can know exactly how to access the values stored in each cell of the spreadsheet. This way, if you want to learn everything about it, read on.

What is a cell reference in Microsoft Excel and what is it for?

First of all, if you are new to using Excel, you should know that spreadsheets are divided into columns and rows. In the case of columns the headings are represented by letters, while in the rows it is with numbers. In this sense, cell references consist of two parts: the first part that indicates the column in which a value is found and the second part that is the row number of the same.

This means that they are one of the fundamental parts of spreadsheets, because by means of a reference it is possible to identify each one of the cells, in order to access the value they contain. To make it easier to identify the reference of which is the active cell, it is highlighted in a different color and apart from that, in the Name box you can see the reference of the active cell.

Regarding its uses, you should know that You can use a cell reference in one or more formulas to refer to different aspects such as:

Data of a cell inside a spreadsheet.
Data that is located in different areas of the spreadsheet.
Data found in cells, but from other spreadsheets within the same book.

Learn step by step how to create a cell reference in Excel

When it comes to how to create a cell reference in ExcelYou should know that there are different mechanisms to achieve it. For example, you can create one in it spreadsheet, on another sheet different or even through Link cells command.

Therefore, we will explain how to do it in each case:

In the same spreadsheet

Press in the cell where you want to write the formula.
In the formula bar write the equal sign "=".

Follow any of the procedures below:

To create a reference to one or more cells: select a cell or range of cells on the same sheet. You can drag the border of the selection to move or drag the corner of the border to enlarge it.
To create a reference to a defined name: write the name. You can also do it by pressing F3, selecting the name in the box Paste name and clicking on To accept.

Finally follow any of the following steps:

To create a reference in a single cell, tap on Get in.
To create a reference in an array formulaplay Ctrl + Shift + Enter.

Keep in mind that reference can be a single cell or range of cells, while the matrix formula it can be a formula that calculates a certain result or several of them.

Cell reference to another worksheet

it's possible create references to cells that are located in other spreadsheetsas long as the spreadsheet name is appended followed by an exclamation point (!) at the beginning of the reference.

Once this is clarified, you can proceed to create a cell reference to another sheet as follows:

Click on the cell where you want to write the formula.
In the formula bar, type "=" along with the formula to use.
Click on the spreadsheet label in which you are going to make the reference.
Select the range of cells or the cell where you are going to make the reference and that's it.

One fact to consider is that if the name of the other sheet has non alphabetic characters you need to write the name (or path) between quotation marks simple, that is, ‘’.

Using the Link Cells command

Finally, there is an option that you can use and it consists of create a cell reference using the Link Cells command. To do this, you must copy and paste a cell reference, and then use the command Link cells and thus create the reference.

We recommend using this command to:

Show more easily important information in a more prominent position.
Facilitate the creation of references between spreadsheets and books. This command automatically pastes the correct syntax.

Once this is clarified, the procedure to follow to create references with the Link Cells command is: