It makes that part of the cell reference absolute, so that when you copy a
formula to another cell, that part of the cell doesn't change. For example

cell B1: = SUM(A1:A10)

copy that to D1 and the resultant formula changes to =SUM(C1:C10)

cell B1: =SUM($A$1:$A$10)

copy that to D1 and the resultant formula changes to =SUM($A$1:$A$10)

cell B1: =SUM($A1:$A10)

copy that to D4 and the resultant formula changes to =SUM($A4:$A13)

--
HTH

Bob Phillips

(remove nothere from email address if mailing direct)

"pso827" wrote in message
...
In Excel, what do the dollar signs mean in $A$