If you feel the need to ask it's not trivial. If you don't ask you wont
know.

The $ fixes the dimension in which the elements of a formula will change
when it is copied to other cells.

=a1
wherever you copy it to the two elements of the formula will change by the
same number of cells (left, right, up, down)

=$a1
wherever you copy it to the first element will always refer to column A and
the reference to the row will change

=a$1
wherever you copy it to the second element will always refer to row 1 and
the reference to the column will change

=$a$1
wherever you copy it to it will always refer to A1

Regards.

Bill Ridgeway
Computer Solutions

"Lee" wrote in message
...
This may sound like a trival question

What are the Dollar sign around the column letter (ex. $a$1) that I see in
some formulas on excel sheets I get from other people. I tried looking it
up
in help but couldn't find anything.

Just wondering