Spreadsheets are currently one of the most used tools to create lists, organize elements and of course perform calculations. Before the appearance of the first software of this type, they were generally filled by hand. They owned rows and columns.
But unlike the old ones, the digital ones present more utilities and the result is reached in a practical way.
One of them is possibility to create references between cells. It is also one of the bases for creating a basic document Microsoft Excel. We invite you to visit the following post to learn more about it.
What is a cell reference in Microsoft Excel and what is it for in a spreadsheet?
It is a function that It is available from the first versions of the program Microsoft Excel. It made an important difference against its competitors. The best way to understand how it works is through a simple analogy. Imagine you are in front of a paper template and that you must put in a box the result of the sum of two others.
Instead of writing the result, you join with a thread the tables related to this operation. Also think that you can do the same with the result box and others on the same sheet, even with another page. In the program, it is an efficient way to indicate that the value or the result one or more cells are reflected in another.
Learn step by step how to use cell references in Excel
As we mentioned before, managing this utility within Excel is essential to then start using more powerful features. It is a very simple operation, although it has variations depending on the result you want to achieve.
Let's see the main ones:
From one cell to another
It is the simplest. For this you must write in a letter and number that refer to the one whose information you are interested in preceded by the equal sign.
For example.
- On a blank sheet, write the value "= 2 + 3" in cell "C2".
- Then write in any other, (can be the "A1") the function "= C2".
- In this way the result of the first cell we referenced will be reflected in the second.
Another way by which we will arrive at the same result, but this time using the keyboard and mouse combination is like this:
- Write any number in the cells what you wish. For example, the ones you will see in the image.
- Then in the cell that will referencewrite the sign "=".
- Click on the cell to which you will refer and press "Enter" to end. You can add operations to other cells or values to this procedure.
Rank
A second possibility offered by this tool is reference a group of contiguous cells. Which are called "Rank".
Complete these steps to achieve this:
- If you go to perform the sum of the values included in said rangewrite in an empty cell "= SUM (".
- Then select, dragging left click on the cells to be added.
- Close the operation by writing the missing sign ")" and press "Enter".
Another sheet
It is even allowed refer to a cell or range outside of the current sheet, but within the same book (document).
This is very useful when we are working with long documents and within which there are separate pages:
- Supposing that your document already has multiple sheets, with values expressed in different cells, write in the cell that will reference "=".
- Then select the cell to refer, regardless of location or blade.
- Press Enter" to end.
We recommend this method over manual entry, since the sheet could vary in name. However, if you want to do it, the function is "= Sheet3! A1" Being the leaf, the number "3" and the cell inside it "A1". If it is renowned it would remain “=’ Second Sheet ’! A1”. Being "Second Sheet ” the renowned and "A1" the location of the cell.