spreadsheet help please!!

[aristomache]

How do I copy the formula from a cell in sheet 1 to sheet 2?

I've tried doing it the way I think(copy&paste), but then it recalculates using the corresponding cells on sheet 2, so I'm getting the wrong total.

Can anyone help?

Does using $ signs help?

eg. $b$4 + $b$6

It usually fixes the cell in one sheet, not sure if it does it to another.

I'll try it now!!

Nope the total on sheet 2 comes up as zero. I'm sure there is a simple way to do this, but I'm just not getting it

Do you have to copy the formula?

Can you put it in manually instead, flicking between the sheets to pick the correct cells from the other sheet?

Select paste special and then you need to select the right option....

One of the options is usually to go to Edit, copy, copy option= copy formula only (not cell values).
You have to use single quotes on the other sheet name I think, in Excel.

The actual formula won't be the same as it needs to include the sheet info in it too so it will be much longer.

I have put the formula in manually but then it references cells from sheet 2, and I need it to reference the cells from sheet 1.

If you want the formula to appear on both sheets:

go onto sheet 2, type = sign, and then click onto the formula on sheet 1.

To keep it simple, type "=" in the cell on the 2nd sheet, click on the total on the 1st sheet and press enter.

BINGO!! thank you!

I knew I was just blatently missing the obvious

or as you type in the formula you click onto sheet 1 and select the cell that you want to use in it.

We all did the same thing at first though tried to work from sheet 1 onto sheet 2 instead of from sheet 2 in the first place.

What the Inspector said.
If I've understood you right you don't want to "copy" the cell from sheet 1, you want to "link to it" (not just correcting you out of pedantry, your life will be easier if you know the correct terms).

Sounds like you want to refer to something on sheet 1 when you are on sheet 2.

Copy and paste will normally copy the expression, hence uses the cells on the sheet you are working in.

Are you using Excel ?

I just tried dividing one cell by another on Sheet1

=C1/D1 (in cell E1)

If I want to do that on Sheet 2 then I would need to put

=Sheet1!C1/Sheet1!D1

IE [sheet name] ! [cell]

Sorry, had been looking at TV and other Geeky stuff topics... before I tried out how to do this in Excel...