Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Stopping a Formula from Updating References.
David wonders if there is a way he can make a formula not automatically update when he inserts a column that would otherwise affect the formula. For instance, if he has the formula =SUM(B:B) and then he inserts a column to the left of column B, the formula is automatically updated by Excel to =SUM(C:C). He doesn't want the formula to update; he still wants it to refer to column B after he inserts the new column.
One way to get the result you want is to use the OFFSET function to refer to column B. For instance, consider the following formula:
=SUM(OFFSET(A:A,0,1))
If this formula is in a cell, and you insert a column before column B, then the formula doesn't update; it still refers to column B. Why? Because the formula refers to column A and you didn't do anything to move column A. If you did insert a column before column A, then the formula would update to reference column B.
This means that the best way to handle the formula is to use the INDIRECT function, in this manner:
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: 
=SUM(INDIRECT("B:B"))
The INDIRECT function uses text for a parameter, and since it is text it is not considered a reference to be updated by Excel. Regardless of inserting or deleting columns, the formula will always refer to column B.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3392) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Stopping a Formula from Updating References.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 2013 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access) with VBA programming, using it for writing macros, automating Office applications, and creating custom applications. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2013 today!
If you have a range of values that can be either positive or negative, you might wonder how to determine the largest ...
Discover MoreExcel makes it easy to concatenate (or combine) different values into a single cell. If you need to combine a different ...
Discover MoreWhen you discover that there is an invalid reference in a workbook, you can have a bear of a time tracking down the problem. ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2012-12-18 12:17:37
chris
I have a formula which I wan tto stop auto updating like above but cannot get the INDIRECT function to work. any advice please?
My formula is:
=IF('Count Sheets'!$B2>0,IF('Count Sheets'!$C2>'Count Sheets'!$D2,'Count Sheets'!$B2,""),"")
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2017 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments