specify an absolute sheet address

users
#1

Good evening
I am probably, again!, too stupid to figure this out by myself,
so I would be grateful for a hint.

I have a file with something like 25 sheets listing the patients who visited my clinic before
grouped by year. In one sheet I have all names (about 2,000).

To make my work easier I set up a VLOOKUP function to help me enter zip codes.
In sheet 2021 that formula looks like
=VLOOKUP(N77,'Zip codes'.$A$2:$B$150,2,0)
and refers to a sheet with the zip codes 3 sheets to the right. This works fine.

However, when I copy the data (whenever there is something new) to the "ALL" sheet to the right of 2021,
I get a "N/A", because the formula AGAIN refers to the THIRD sheet to the right, that does not have any zip codes.

I tried to figure out, how to specify the sheet "Zip codes" as the absolute address,
like:     =VLOOKUP(N76,$zip codes.$a$2$:$zip #REF!.$B$220,2,0)
but so far all attempts (for quite a while now!) at placing those $ marks have resulted in errors.

I am sure, this is something very simple, but being a simpleton I just cannot figure it out.

Thank you.
Thomas

#2

Greetings,

The management of sheet names works in the same way as cell addresses.
Whenever you give a cell address (like A3), a copy/paste of the cell to
the next cell to the right will transform A3 into B3. To prevent that,
you place a "$" sign in front of the column address, like: $A3. You can
also make the row address absolute by placing a "$" in front of the
row, like: A$3. And to make the cell reference absolute, you write its
address like this: $A$3.

The same applies to sheet names. To prevent a copy from changing the
referenced name, you place a "$" in front of the sheet address: $'Zip
codes'.$A$2:$B$150. This must be done before the copy is performed.
Please note that because you have blanks in your sheet names, you need
to use the quote (this is probably why your example generated a #REF!
error).

Another way is to use named ranges. You highlight the cells you want to
reference and you give them a name by typing in the name reference zone
to the left of the formula. Once the name is stored, you can use that
name directly in a formula. Names can then be managed from the
selection in the Sheet menu.

I hope this helps.
Rémy.

#3

Good evening
I am probably, again!, too stupid to figure this out by myself,
so I would be grateful for a hint.

I have a file with something like 25 sheets listing the patients who
visited my clinic before
grouped by year. In one sheet I have all names (about 2,000).

To make my work easier I set up a VLOOKUP function to help me enter zip
codes.
In sheet 2021 that formula looks like
=VLOOKUP(N77,'Zip codes'.$A$2:$B$150,2,0)
and refers to a sheet with the zip codes 3 sheets to the right. This
works fine.

However, when I copy the data (whenever there is something new) to the
"ALL" sheet to the right of 2021,
I get a "N/A", because the formula AGAIN refers to the THIRD sheet to
the right, that does not have any zip codes.

I tried to figure out, how to specify the sheet "Zip codes" as the
absolute address,
like: =VLOOKUP(N76,$zip codes.$a$2$:$zip #REF!.$B$220,2,0)
but so far all attempts (for quite a while now!) at placing those $
marks have resulted in errors.

As long as you have a ”#REF!” involved you'll get an error. Get rid of that
first (replace it with what's supposed to be there), and then try again.
And what's ”$zip”? Is that a cell name? Then that's wrong too.

Another way to get around it is to name your range. Then your formula could
look something like =VLOOKUP(N76;ZipCodes;2;0)
Named ranges are absolute, always.

Kind regards

Johnny Rosenberg

#4

After futile efforts to make all those symbols work somehow, I recalled you mentioning "naming a range".
Since I did not know, there is such a concept, I did some reading and after a few experiments - I hope! - I may actually have solved my problem.
Defining the data range in the sheet "Zip codes", naming it "zipcodes" (this setting apparently does not accept spaces),
the formula seems to be working .. AND .. looks a lot friendlier!
=VLOOKUP(N79,zipcodes,2,0)

Your idea was VERY helpful! Thank you.
Even I can understand that formula.
(You used semicolons in your formula, mine has commas. Is there a difference?
Greetings from Japan where it is sunny (and rather hot) today, but we are about to enter the rainy season ...
Thomas Blasejewicz

#5

Tools > Options > LibreOffice Calc > Formula > Separators

#6

Greetings,

The semicolon is used as my separator because my locale (Canadian
French) wants decimal commas.
In such a case, the list separator is changed to the semicolon to
remove the chance of conflict between a number (1 1/2 is written as 1,5
and not 1.5) and its position in the list. The same applies to formulas
where numbers can be used as arguments in a list, so the argument
separator becomes the semicolon.

As John rightfully pointed out, one can change the separator used, but
in my case the comma is really not an option.

This is purely a display artifact because I can share Calc files
regardless of the separator used: if you open one of "my" Calc files,
your separator will be used, and vice-versa.

I hope this helps.
Rémy.