Copy over cell that is part of a formula error

[haynewp]

Is there any way to avoid the #REF! error if you drag the content of one cell into another cell, and the destination cell is a reference to a formula (and the cell containing the formula now gives #REF! error as a result)? And yes this question is as easy and basic as it seems but I don't have the answer.

It doesn't happen if I hold down CTRL while dragging, but then I have to go back and delete the cell content from the original cell I was dragging from.

 

[IRstuff]

Why not just make the formula reference the cell you're dragging from?

TTFN

FAQ731-376
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[haynewp]

It is a project budget forecast so the numbers are anticipated. The attached is a simple example, where if Mark told me he was going to spend about $100 against my project this past Monday and didn't get around to it, I want to drag (or better yet, use cut and paste in this example) the $100 he still needs to spend down to Monday the 28th.

It doesn't appear to be possible in Excel, I have to copy it down then go back and delete the original value every time.

 

[haynewp]

I figured out a way for simple addition, if you use ="SUM()" in the formula locations instead of "=C8+D8+E8..." it works without giving #REF! at the formula locations.

 

[haynewp]

That is, values that can be summed as a range:

"=Sum(range:range)" and not "=Sum(D8+E9+F10+E8...etc) or it will trigger the error when dragging contents.

 

[IDS]

Using the Sum function will work in this case (provided you don't paste onto the top or bottom cell of the range), but it really isn't a good idea. When you cut and paste you also move any references to the cut cell, and write over any references in the paste cell (which is why you get the #REF! result).

It's much safer to copy and delete, or delete and re-type.

Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services

http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/