Specifying a Cell Reference in a Formula

In This Topic

Besides values, operators, and functions, a formula can contain references to values in other cells. For example, to find the sum of the values in two cells, the formula can refer to the cell coordinates by row and column. You can use an absolute cell reference (with the actual coordinates of the row and column) or a relative cell reference (with the coordinates relative to the current cell). You choose which type of cell reference for the sheet by using the ReferenceStyle property. For details on the way to specify the reference style, refer to the ReferenceStyle property of the SheetView class, and the ReferenceStyle enumeration.

If you have changed the cell reference style to a style that cannot represent the formula, the Spread component provides the formula with question marks as placeholders for cell references that cannot be represented.

The following table contains examples of valid formulas using references:

Function	Description
SUM(A1:A10)	Sums rows 1 through 10 in the first column
PI( )*C6	PI times the value in cell C6
(A1 + B1) * C1	Adds the values in the first two cells and multiplies the result by the value in the third cell
IF(A1>5, A12, A13)	If the contents of cell A1 are greater than 5, then multiply the contents of cell A1 by 2, else multiply the contents of cell A1 by 3

If you have defined relative cell references used in a formula in cell B1 as RC[-1]+R[-1]C, the formula is interpreted as add the value in the cell to the left (A1) to the value in the cell above ("B0"). The component treats the value in the cell "B0" as an empty cell. If you change the cell reference style to the A1 style, the formula becomes A1+B?, because the A1 style cannot represent cell "B0". However, the component still evaluates the formula as it would using the R1C1 reference style.

Note: Although most of Spread uses zero-based references to rows and columns, in the creation of formulas you must use one-based references. The column and row numbers start at one (1), not zero (0).

Range Reference

Spread supports range references where the start row and end row consists of same reference types (either both row coordinates are absolute or both row coordinates are relative) and different reference types (one coordinate is absolute, other coordinate is relative and vice a versa).

The following table describes some examples of range references in R1C1 (Number-Number) notation:

Reference	Whether Supported
R1C[-1]:R5C[-1]	supported (absolute row : absolute row)
R1C[-1]:RC[-1]	supported (absolute row : relative row)
RC[-1]:R5C[-1]	supported (relative row : absolute row)
R[-5]C[-1]:RC[-1]	supported (relative row : relative row)

The following table describes some examples of range references with different reference types in A1 (Letter-Number) notation:

Reference	Whether Supported
A$1:$B1	supported (cell range starting with relative column plus one, absolute first row and ending with absolute second column, relative row plus one)
$A1:B$1	supported (cell range starting with absolute first column, relative row plus one and ending with relative column plus one, absolute first row)
A$1:B$1	supported (cell range starting with relative column plus one, absolute first row and ending with relative row plus one, absolute first column)

The following table describes some examples of special usage cases that are supported in range references in Spread:

Reference	Whether Supported
$A:$B A:B C1:C2 C[-2]:C[-1]	supported (refers to whole column)
$1:$2 1:2 R1:R2 R[-5]:R[-4]	supported (refers to whole row)

Reference

Whether Supported

$A:$B

A:B

C1:C2

C[-2]:C[-1]

supported (refers to whole column)

$1:$2

1:2

R1:R2

R[-5]:R[-4]

supported (refers to whole row)

For more information on range reference styles, refer to the Formula Reference.

Using the Properties Window

At design time, in the Properties window select the Sheets property and click on the button to open the SheetView Collection editor.
Select the sheet from the Member list.
In the properties list (in the Calculation category), select the ReferenceStyle property.
Click the drop-down arrow to display the choices and select the value, either A1 or R1C1.

Using Code

Specify the reference style by setting the ReferenceStyle property or use the default ReferenceStyle value.

Example

This example sets the reference style.

C#	Copy Code
fpSpread1.Sheets[0].ReferenceStyle = FarPoint.Win.Spread.Model.ReferenceStyle.A1; fpSpread1.Sheets[0].Cells[2, 2].Formula = "SUM(A1:A6)";

VB	Copy Code
fpSpread1.Sheets(0).ReferenceStyle = FarPoint.Win.Spread.Model.ReferenceStyle.A1 fpSpread1.Sheets(0).Cells(2, 2).Formula = "SUM(A1:A6)"

Using the Spread Designer

Select the sheet tab name for the sheet.
In the property list (in the Calculation category), select the ReferenceStyle property.
Click the drop-down arrow to display the choices and select the value, either A1 or R1C1.
From the File menu choose Apply and Exit to apply your changes to the component and exit Spread Designer.