Microsoft Excel records cell addresses in formulas in three different ways, called absolute, relative, and mixed. The way a formula is recorded is important when you copy it.

With relative cell addressing, when you copy a formula from one area of the worksheet to another, Microsoft Excel records the position of the cell relative to the cell that originally contained the formula. The following exercises demonstrate:

Go to cell A7.
Type 1. Press Enter.
Type 1. Press Enter.
Type 1. Press Enter.
Go to cell B7.
Type 2. Press Enter.
Type 2. Press Enter.
Type 2. Press Enter.
Go to cell A10.

In addition to typing a formula, as you did in Lesson 1, you can also enter formulas by using Point mode. When you are in Point mode, you can enter a formula either by clicking on a cell with your mouse or by using the arrow keys.

You should be in cell A10.
Type =.
Use the up arrow key to move to cell A7.
Type +.
Use the up arrow key to move to cell A8.
Type +.
Use the up arrow key to move to cell A9.
Press Enter.
Look at the Formula bar while in cell A10. Note that the formula you entered is recorded in cell A10.

Copying by Using the Menu

You can copy entries from one cell to another cell. To copy the formula you just entered, follow these steps:

You should be in cell A10.
Choose Edit > Copy from the menu. Moving dotted lines appear around cell A10, indicating the cells to be copied.
Press the Right Arrow key once to move to cell B10.
Choose Edit > Paste from the menu. The formula in cell A10 is copied to cell B10.
Press Esc to exit the Copy mode.

Compare the formula in cell A10 with the formula in cell B10 (while in the respective cell, look at the Formula bar). The formulas are the same except that the formula in cell A10 sums the entries in column A and the formula in cell B10 sums the entries in column B. The formula was copied in a relative fashion.

Before proceeding with the next exercise, you must copy the information in cells A7 to B9 to cells C7 to D9. This time you will copy by using the Formatting toolbar.

Copying by Using the Formatting Toolbar

Highlight cells A7 to B9. Place the cursor in cell A7. Press F8. Press the down arrow key twice. Press the right arrow key once. A7 to B9 should be highlighted.
Click the Copy icon , which is located on the Formatting toolbar.
Use the arrow key to move the cursor to cell C7.
Click the Paste icon , which is located on the Formatting toolbar.
Press Esc to exit Copy mode.

Absolute Cell Addressing

An absolute cell address refers to the same cell, no matter where you copy the formula. You make a cell address an absolute cell address by placing a dollar sign in front of both the row and column identifiers. You can do this automatically by using the F4 key. To illustrate:

Move the cursor to cell C10.
Type =.
Use the up arrow key to move to cell C7.
Press F4. Dollar signs should appear before the C and before the 7.
Type +.
Use the up arrow key to move to cell C8.
Press F4.
Type +.
Use the up arrow key to move to cell C9.
Press F4.
Press Enter. The formula is recorded in cell C10.

Copying by Using the Keyboard Shortcut

Now copy the formula from C10 to D10. This time, you will copy by using the keyboard shortcut.

Your cursor should be in cell C10.
Hold down the Ctrl key while you press "c" (Ctrl-c). This copies the contents of cell C10.
Press the right arrow once.
Hold down the Ctrl key while you press "v" (Ctrl-v). This pastes the contents of cell C10 in cell D10.
Press Esc to exit the Copy mode.

Compare the formula in cell C10 with the formula in cell D10. They are the same. The formula was copied in an absolute fashion. Both formulas sum column C.

Mixed Cell Addressing

You use mixed cell addressing to reference a cell that is part absolute and part relative. You can use the F4 key.

Move the cursor to cell E1.
Type =.
Press the up arrow key once.
Press F4.
Press F4 again. Note that the column is relative and the row is absolute.
Press F4 again. Note that the column is absolute and the row is relative.
Press Esc.