Spreadsheet References

Spreadsheet references are used in Spreadsheet expressions to refer to cells, ranges, rows, columns, and sheets. They use Excel-style reference notation and are written directly in expressions — without the {} required by standard references.

Cell references are only valid in expressions that appear inside Spreadsheet cells. They cannot be used in general-purpose Iotellect expressions outside of a Spreadsheet context.

Cell References

A cell reference consists of a column name and a row number, for example B2 or $A$1. The column letter comes first, followed by the row number.

Prefixing the column letter or row number with the ($) character makes that part of the reference absolute. An absolute reference does not adjust when a formula is copied or moved to another cell; a relative reference does.

Notation

Description

A1

Relative reference. Both column and row adjust when the formula is copied.

$A1

Absolute column, relative row. The column stays fixed; the row adjusts.

A$1

Relative column, absolute row. The column adjusts; the row stays fixed.

$A$1

Absolute reference. Both column and row are fixed.

Single-letter references, such as A, may be recognized lexically, but they are not resolved as valid cell or range references. Use whole-column notation, such as A:A or A:B, to refer to columns.

Range References

A range reference consists of two cell references separated by a colon (:).

Notation

Description

B2:B5

Cells B2 through B5.

$B$2:$B$5

Same range, fully absolute.

$B$2:$B5

Mixed: absolute top-left corner, relative bottom-right corner.

Column and Row Ranges

To refer to all cells in one or more entire columns or rows, omit the row number or the column letter:

Notation

Description

A:B

All cells in columns A and B.

1:3

All cells in rows 1 through 3.

Sheet References

To refer to a different sheet within the same Spreadsheet, specify the sheet name before the cell or range reference and separate it with !.

Notation

Description

Sheet2!A1

Cell A1 on sheet Sheet2.

Sheet2!$A$1

Absolute reference to cell A1 on sheet Sheet2.

Sheet2!$A$1:$B$123

Range on sheet Sheet2.

Spreadsheet names that contain spaces are not supported in direct cell reference notation.

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