Reference to Another Sheet in Excel

How to Reference Another Sheet or Workbook in Excel? (with Examples)

Example #1 – Reference in the Same Worksheet

Example #2 – Reference in the Same Workbook but from Different Sheet

Referencing a cellReferencing A CellCell reference in excel is referring the other cells to a cell to use its values or properties. For instance, if we have data in cell A2 and want to use that in cell A1, use =A2 in cell A1, and this will copy the A2 value in A1.read more from the same sheet in Excel does not need rocket science knowledge. Similarly, referencing the different worksheets in the same workbook is also simple.

  • Assume we are in cell E8. We need the data from the B2 cell. In the B2 cell, we have the “Apple” price. So, we need the same number to be linked to the E8 cell. Therefore, we must open an equal sign in the E8 cell. We can select the particular cell by mouse (B2 cell) or type B2 directly. Then, press the “Enter” key now. We have a value from cell B2 to E8. Now, the E8 cell is completely dependent on the B2 cell. Therefore, any changes in cell B2 will directly affect the E8 cell except for cell formatting.

Assume you have a sheet named Sheet1 & Sheet2.

In Sheet1, we have sales data, and in Sheet2, we need the total of these sales data.

Now, we must open the SUM function in Sheet2 and A2 cells.

Next, go to Sheet1 and select the required cell range, B2 to B6.

Now, close the formula and press the “Enter” key.

Now take a look at the formula reference =SUM in ExcelSUM In ExcelThe SUM function in excel adds the numerical values in a range of cells. Being categorized under the Math and Trigonometry function, it is entered by typing “=SUM” followed by the values to be summed. The values supplied to the function can be numbers, cell references or ranges.read more (Sheet1! B2:B6).

So, to reference an Excel cell or range of cells from another sheet, we need to get a worksheet name first, i.e., Sheet1, followed by an exclamation mark (!) before we mention the cell address, B2: B6.

In the case of a single-cell worksheet, the name and cell address will be =Sheet1! B2.

In this way, we can reference the different worksheet cells in the same workbook. A simple thing is when we reference the cell from the various worksheets in the same workbook, we may get the sheet names before the cell reference.

Example #3 – Reference in the Different Workbook Sheet

We get a sheet name while referencing a cell or range of cells from another sheet. Similarly, when referencing an Excel cell or range of cells from different workbooks, we get a workbook name, worksheet name, and cell reference.

For example, we have two workbooks, “Main File” and “ABC File.“

From “Main File,”we need to refer to cell B2 from sheet “Sheet2.” Then, we must open the equal sign in “ABC File.“

Now go to the workbook Main File > Sheet2 and select A2 cell.

So we got another sheet reference as =” [Main File.xlsx] Sheet2”! $A$2.

”[Main File.xlsx] Sheet2.” It is the first thing we got in the cell reference. ”Main File.xlsx” is the workbook we are referring to. Here, ”Main File” is the workbook we refer to, and ”.xlsx” is the file excel extensionExcel ExtensionExcel extensions represent the file format. It helps the user to save different types of excel files in various formats. For instance, .xlsx is used for simple data, and XLSM is used to store the VBA code.read more of the workbook.

“Sheet2” is the worksheet name in the “Main File” workbook.

Therefore, “$A$2” is the cell we refer to in “Sheet2” in the “Main File” workbook.

It is the reference we got when we opened the workbook. Next, we will close the workbook “Main File” and see the impact on this Excel cell reference.

It looks like rocket science.

But this is not as intimidating as we are thinking right now. So let us take a close look at the reference now.

=’E:sharmila[Main File.xlsx]Sheet2′!$A$2

=’E: is the drive in your computer or laptop.

sharmila is the main folder name in the Drive =’E:

[Main File.xlsx] is the file name.

Sheet2′!$A$2 is the worksheet name and cell reference.

Things to Remember

  • When referencing cells from the same sheet, we only get cell addresses.When referencing a cell from another sheet in Excel but the same workbook, we may get the worksheet names we are referring to and the cell address in that worksheet.We get a relative excel referenceRelative Excel ReferenceIn Excel, relative references are a type of cell reference that changes when the same formula is copied to different cells or worksheets. Let’s say we have =B1+C1 in cell A1, and we copy this formula to cell B2 and it becomes C2+D2.read more if the cell is referred from another Excel worksheet in the same workbook, A2.If the cell is referred from another workbook in Excel, we get an absolute reference, $A$2.

This article has been a guide to Excel Reference to Another Sheet. Here, we discuss how to give a reference from one sheet to another sheet from the same workbook or another workbook, practical examples, and a downloadable Excel template. You may learn more about Excel from the following articles: –

  • How to Protect Workbook in Excel?What is 3D Reference in Excel?Cell Reference in ExcelExcel Shared Workbook