But even an absolute reference will change if the location
to which it refers to is changed by inserting or deleting rows, columns,
or cells. Just wanted to mention better how it is "locked".
Like the others said, applies to fill handle and copying and pasting.

Anything within quotes will not change when using the fill handle,
but will also not change if inserting or deleting rows, columns.

I think you already have the fill handle usage but just in case
and there is a lot more on the page besides the fill handle
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/filhand.htm
like use of the mouse.
---
HTH,
David McRitchie, Microsoft MVP - Excel [site changed Nov. 2001]
My Excel Pages: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/excel.htm
Search Page: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/search.htm

"Biff" wrote in message ...
Hi!

The $ sign makes that reference absolute. In other words:

$C2:$C8 and $F2:$F8

Those references are "locked" onto column C and column F.

If you were to copy that formula to some other location the column
references are absolute and would not change.

The same thing applies to the row portion of the reference:

C$2:C$8 and F$2:F$8

You can also make everything absolute:

$C$2:$C$8 and $F$2:$F$8

In this case both the column and the row references are "locked"

Biff

"Vernita" wrote in message
...
for example, sumif($c2:$c8,"3",$f2:$f8)