Get value from ADDRESS function output in Numbers

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Level 2

405 points

Get value from ADDRESS function output in Numbers

I understand how to construct an address (=ADDRESS(6,4,addr-type,addr-style,"Sheet 1::Table 1")) but I can't figure out how to make a cell in a table point to this address. All I get back in the cell is "Sheet 1::Table 1::$D$6" in that cell. How do I get the value that Sheet 1::Table 1::$D$6 I'm trying to reference?

In most support pages, Apple has both formulas AND tables where it shows you both and shows you the result. That way you can see whether or not you are doing something correctly by replicating the example in a test table. Apple really dropped the ball on both explaining on how APPLY address in a working formula!

I'm referring to ADDRESS - Apple Support

So I've constructed an address, how do I USE it?

iMac 27″

Posted on Jan 8, 2026 8:28 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Camelot

Level 9

58,431 points

Jan 8, 2026 10:05 AM in response to OlsonBW

The inverse of ADDRESS() is INDIRECT()

Indirect takes a string value that represents a cell reference, parses it, and returns the corresponding cell's value.

So if your ADDRESS() function is in cell A1, and you set cell B2 to:

=INDIRECT(A1)

then you'll get the value of the cell that the ADDRESS relates to.

Unless you particularly want/need the ADDRESS(), it may just be easier to build the reference inside INDIRECT()

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Answer 2

Badunit

Level 7

30,588 points

Jan 8, 2026 4:38 PM in response to OlsonBW

=INDIRECT(ADDRESS(6,4,,,"Sheet 1::Table 1"))

or

=INDIRECT("Sheet 1::Table 1::D6")

or

=INDIRECT("Sheet 1::Table 1::R6C4",FALSE)

If the cell is in the same table as the formula you can shorten them to

=INDIRECT(ADDRESS(6,4))

or

=INDIRECT("D6")

or

=INDIRECT("R6C4",FALSE)

Or you can use other functions like OFFSET

=OFFSET($A$1,6−1,4−1)

I could have made that OFFSET($A$1,5,3) but thought it better to show the 6 and 4 here.

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