I've been a casual user of xcel for awhile, but haven't figured some
stuff out:

1. I have a spreadsheet that needs to expand by inserting several
columns near the left side each year; ie, there are a couple of columns
of text for various accounting categories/items on the left, then I want
to have 2 or 3 columns representing values and calculations for the
current year (some of which depend on using prior year numbers for
calculations) then columns for the prior year, then the next prior
year,etc, etc.

I find it very difficult to update the spreadsheet each year, since
simply inserting new columns and copying the prior year columns and/or
dragging/propagating the prior year cells to the left doesn't seem to
result in correct formulas (as they might if I propagate to the right)
so I have to change just about every cell manually. It's a very long
spreadsheet.

Is there a simpler approach?

2. Related question: Is there a method of sectioning off a spreadsheet,
such that you can have text at the top, some rows & columns of constants
and calculated cells, a section of different text, a differently-divided
section of rows & columns (different than the prior section), etc....
and, when columns are added to one section it does not affect the other
sections (doesn't divide the text sections nor affect columns in another
section)? In other words, like 4 (or more) different spreadsheets all in
one for perusal/printing?

Wayne