Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

How to "lock" a cell reference in Numbers??

HELP! I am a recent convert from Windows based machines to Apple. I am very familiar with Excel and need to figure out how to do something in Numbers....

I need to know how to lock a cell reference so that when you drag the formula down or across it keeps the same cell reference. In Excel you can do this by picking the cell and then hitting F4 to either lock the column, row or both.

Anybody out there help a newbie?? Thanks

Posted on Dec 17, 2009 2:02 PM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Jan 1, 2010 5:09 PM

I tried to lock the cell using "$" but it didn't lock the formula. What is the best way to lock the cell/formula?

Thanks Roy
17 replies

Jan 9, 2010 9:27 AM in response to Jerrold Green1

Thanks Jerrold, I'm using them that way. My request has to do with
using them as an Absolute Reference versus a relative reference.
If I specify a header ref for a cell in a formula, when I drag that
formula to some other cells I want Numbers to treat it as absolute,
ie. as if I had said $A$5. What I am finding is that it does it's default
behaviour, ie. it is translating the formula reference to a new cell just
as it would do for a reference like A5.

ie. with header references, what is the equivalent of specifying $A$5?
($header name doesn't work 🙂 ).

thx, rob

Jan 2, 2010 7:07 AM in response to KOENIG Yvan

Hi Yvan,

When the OP said: "I need to know how to lock a cell reference so that when you drag the formula down or across it keeps the same cell reference" I was certain, and I still believe, he was referring to Absolute Addressing. This is of course not what most people think of as cell locking, so I suspect that the new question refers to true locking.

Jerry

Jan 8, 2010 10:06 AM in response to Jerrold Green1

A related question - if I'm using Header naming for my cell references (ex. "Monthly" and "Rate as the column and row names respectively) is there a way for me to drag a formula into multiple cells that will update the relative referencing in the formula without also doing the same to the "header referencing"?

ex. cell D25 = Table1 :: Monthly Rate *2 + C25, then drag down, wanting
cell D26 = Table1 :: Monthly Rate *2 + C26, not Table1 :: B12 or whatever

Rob

How to "lock" a cell reference in Numbers??

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.