Is there a way for child cells in a spreadsheet to use the formula in a parent cell at the top of a spreadsheet? The object being that if the parent formula is changed, all of the child formulas are also changed.
To illustrate, assume I create a parent formula in cell E1. This formula might not be 100% correct and so may have to be changed later.
In the body of the spreadsheet, I have child cells that reference the formula in parent cell E1. Each child formula uses values on it own row for its calculations. So my spreadsheet looks something like this:
Row
01 .. Values in columns B1, C1, D1. (E1 = Parent formula) <== Master Formula
02
03 .. Calculate some values not related to the formula.
04 .. Values in columns B4, C4, D4. (E4 = reference to parent formula)
05
06 .. Calculate some values not related to the formula
07 .. Values in columns B7, C7, D7. (E7 = reference to parent formula)
The parent (Master) formula in cell E1 uses the dummy values in cells B1, C1 & D1.
The child formula in E4 uses the values in B4, C4 & D4 for its calculations.
The child formula in E7 uses the values in B7, C7 & D7 for its calculations.
So if I change the Parent Formula, the formulas in E4 and E7 also change. This negates having to change the formula in all of the child cells in the spreadsheet manually.
WHAT I'VE TRIED:
If I copy the formula in the parent cell to all of the child cells, everything works as expected.
But if I type "E1" in the child cells, the child cells just show the "result" of the calculation in cell E1. I don't want the result of E1, I want the formula in E1.
I've also tried naming cell E1 as "MasterFormula" and using the name in the child cells. Same thing, the child cells show the "result" of E1, not the "formula" in E1.
I'm using Excel 2000 on a Windows 7 PC.
Thanks,
Viper88
To illustrate, assume I create a parent formula in cell E1. This formula might not be 100% correct and so may have to be changed later.
In the body of the spreadsheet, I have child cells that reference the formula in parent cell E1. Each child formula uses values on it own row for its calculations. So my spreadsheet looks something like this:
Row
01 .. Values in columns B1, C1, D1. (E1 = Parent formula) <== Master Formula
02
03 .. Calculate some values not related to the formula.
04 .. Values in columns B4, C4, D4. (E4 = reference to parent formula)
05
06 .. Calculate some values not related to the formula
07 .. Values in columns B7, C7, D7. (E7 = reference to parent formula)
The parent (Master) formula in cell E1 uses the dummy values in cells B1, C1 & D1.
The child formula in E4 uses the values in B4, C4 & D4 for its calculations.
The child formula in E7 uses the values in B7, C7 & D7 for its calculations.
So if I change the Parent Formula, the formulas in E4 and E7 also change. This negates having to change the formula in all of the child cells in the spreadsheet manually.
WHAT I'VE TRIED:
If I copy the formula in the parent cell to all of the child cells, everything works as expected.
But if I type "E1" in the child cells, the child cells just show the "result" of the calculation in cell E1. I don't want the result of E1, I want the formula in E1.
I've also tried naming cell E1 as "MasterFormula" and using the name in the child cells. Same thing, the child cells show the "result" of E1, not the "formula" in E1.
I'm using Excel 2000 on a Windows 7 PC.
Thanks,
Viper88
Last edited: