Depends on exactly what you're looking to accomplish.

As an example, say you want to link the range C2 to C10 to the range of AK10
to AK18.

In AK10 enter
=C2
And drag down to copy to AK18.

While the cells are *still* selected,
Hold <Ctrl and hit < [ .

This navigates (jumps) the selection to the source cells.
While the cells are *still* selected,
Click on the "Format Painter" icon (yellow paint brush) on the tool bar,
then
Hold <Ctrl and hit < ] .

This returns the selection to the destination cells (AK10:AK18).

Now, simply click in AK10.

This will *copy* the format of the source cells to the destination cells.
It does *not* make the format a part of the link!

If you changed the source format, the destination format would *not* change
without a new copy procedure.

Don't know if this helps or not?
--
Regards,

RD

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"Jim" wrote in message
...
Ok, thanks. I thought it might be so easy I was being stupid. good to
know
i'm not! :-)

Any smart workarounds that you can think of?


--
Best Regards
Jim


"T. Valko" wrote:

Is this possible?

Unfortunately, no. A formula returns only the value.


--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Jim" wrote in message
...
Hi

When using simple ="cell reference" (eg =c2) Excel should copy the cell
value AND the cell format.

Is this possible?

Thanks
--
Best Regards
Jim