Entering Data: Using Cell References

1. Overview

Cell references can be written in either A1 notation or RC notation. The table below shows equivalent forms and explains what each reference points to.

A1 notation RC notation Refers To
$A$1 R1C1 A cell in row 1, column 1.
This is an absolute reference: inserting/deleting rows or columns and copying/pasting does not change the reference.
A1 R[0]C[0]
R[1]C[2]
R[-1]C[-2]		 A cell in row 1, column 1.
This is a relative reference: inserting/deleting rows or columns and copying/pasting may adjust the reference to preserve correct relationships.

Examples:
  • Copying =B2 from A1 to C3 becomes =D4.
  • Copying =B$2 from A1 to C3 becomes =D$2.
  • Copying =$B2 from A1 to C3 becomes =$B4.
$1:$1
1:1		 R1 The entire first row.
$A:$A
A:A		 C1 The entire first column.
$1:$5 R1:R5 Rows 1 through 5.
$A:$E C1:C5 Columns 1 through 5.
$A$1:$E$5 R1C1:R5C5 A rectangular range from A1 (top‑left) to E5 (bottom‑right).
Sheet1!$A$1
'Sheet1'!$A$1		 Sheet1!R1C1
'Sheet1'!R1C1		 The A1 cell from the “Sheet1” worksheet in the same workbook.

Note:
  • Quotation marks may be omitted if the sheet name contains only alphanumeric characters and no spaces.
  • If the name contains quotation marks, enclose it in quotes and double the internal marks.
'Folder1\Sheet1'!$A$1:$E$5 "Folder1\Sheet1"!R1C1:R5C5 The A1:E5 range from the “Folder1\Sheet1” worksheet in the same workbook.
'Folder1'!$A$1 "Folder1"!R1C1 The A1 cell (returned as one column) from all worksheets in the “Folder1” folder.
'Folder1'!$A$1:$E$5 "Folder1"!R1C1:R5C5 All A1:E5 ranges (returned as one column) from all worksheets in the “Folder1” folder.
'd:\documents \[sample.gsc]Sheet1'!$A$1
'd:\documents \[sample.gsc]Sheet1'!A1		 "d:\documents \[sample.gsc]Sheet1"!R1C1 The A1 cell from “Sheet1” in the sample.gsc workbook.

Note:
  • File names must be enclosed in square brackets.
  • Paths may be absolute or relative.
  • Relative paths (including empty paths) are resolved based on the path of the document containing the reference, or — if unsaved — the last opened document or the default document folder.
"d: \[sample.gsc]Folder1"!$A$1:$E$5 "d: \[sample.gsc]Folder1"!R1C1:R5C5 All A1:E5 ranges (returned as one column) from all worksheets in the “Folder1” folder of the sample.gsc workbook.