Question

I have a spreadsheet cell A1 with the formula =SUM($P$1:$P$6).
Now when I cut the cells P1:P6 and paste them to, say, C1:C6, it changes the formula inside A1 to =SUM($C$1:$C$6).

Any way to keep the original reference in A1 when cutting other cells?

Answer 1

The only way to keep the reference from updating is to not reference it directly. I.E. =SUM(INDIRECT("P1:P6"))

Now if for some reason you wanted to be able to copy that down your column, you’d write it something like: =SUM(INDIRECT("P" &ROW() &":P" &ROW() + 5))

Now if you wanted to copy that across your rows as well, you’d have to write it something like: =SUM(INDIRECT(ADDRESS(ROW(), COLUMN()+15) & ":" &ADDRESS(ROW()+5,COLUMN()+15)))

Here’s a reference for using INDIRECT