There are three types of cell references:
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A relative reference gives the location of a cell relative to the location of the cell containing the formula. When you copy a cell that contains a formula with a relative reference, AppleWorks changes the reference to reflect the relative position from the new source cell. |
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For example, if a formula in cell B2 contains a reference to cell C3, the reference tells AppleWorks to get the value in the cell that is one column over and one row down. When you Cut or Copy and Paste the formula in B2 to G7, the reference to cell C3 changes to H8 (one over and one down from G7). |
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However, if you move B2 to G7 using the Move command in the Calculate menu, the reference remains C3. |
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An absolute reference gives the exact location of a cell; it doesn't change when you copy a formula. You indicate an absolute reference by typing a dollar sign ($) in front of each part of the cell reference ($C$5). |
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For example, if a formula in B2 contains an absolute reference to cell C3 ($C$3), when you copy or move the formula in B2 to G7, the reference to C3 does not change. |
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A mixed reference contains relative and absolute references. The absolute reference can be either to the column or row. Type the "$" before the part of the reference that you want to be absolute. |
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For example, $C3 indicates an absolute column but a relative row. If B2 contains the reference $C3, when you copy or move B2 to G7, AppleWorks updates the row reference but not the column reference, so the new reference is $C8. |
Note: References to named cells are always absolute.
Tip: Use Fill Right or Fill Down (in the Calculate menu) to get the same results as described above with Copy and Paste.
For AppleWorks to correctly update cell references when you relocate a cell referred to by other cells by any type of cell reference, you must use the Move command (in the Calculate menu), not Cut or Copy.