Hello,
I've created a spreadsheet to compare numbers with a "IF" statement:

=IF(LEN(D2)<1,"Blank",IF(EXACT(D2,$C$1),"Go","No Go"))

I've also locked the cells that contain the IF formula. Here's the
premise... I enter a number in one cell -- C1 and then I have a row D1 thru
D50 to input other numbers. If a number in row D matches with what's in C1,
a "Go" appears in row E (where the IF formula resides). If it doesn't match,
a "No Go" appears.

Issue: Since row D is not locked (so I can enter numbers) I'm able to
highlight it. If i highlight and drag it to a different cell, the formula in
row E somehow changes (even though it's locked)

For example:
I click and drag cell D1 to D3 and the IF formula (which is locked) in E3
changed...to the following:

Here's how it changed:
=IF(LEN(#REF!)<1,"Blank",IF(EXACT(#REF!,$C$1),"Go" ,"No Go"))

how is that possible?

I even tried adding & within the cells and that didn't work...

Thanks in advance.