Returns the reference specified by a text string. References are immediately evaluated to display their contents. Use INDIRECT when you want to change the reference to a cell within a formula without changing the formula itself.
Syntax
INDIRECT(ref_text,a1)
Ref_text is a reference to a cell that contains an A1-style reference, an R1C1-style reference, a name defined as a reference, or a reference to a cell as a text string. If ref_text is not a valid cell reference, INDIRECT returns the #REF! error value.
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If ref_text refers to another workbook (an external reference), the other workbook must be open. If the source workbook is not open, INDIRECT returns the #REF! error value.
A1 is a logical value that specifies what type of reference is contained in the cell ref_text.
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If a1 is TRUE or omitted, ref_text is interpreted as an A1-style reference.
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If a1 is FALSE, ref_text is interpreted as an R1C1-style reference.
Example
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.
How?- Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
- Select the example in the Help topic. Do not select the row or column headers.
Selecting an example from Help
- Press CTRL+C.
- In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
- To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Tools menu, point to Formula Auditing, and then click Formula Auditing Mode.
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When you create a formula that refers to a cell, the reference to the cell will be updated if: (1) the cell is moved by using the Cut command to delete the cell or (2) the cell is moved because rows or columns are inserted or deleted. If you always want the formula to refer to the same cell regardless of whether the row above the cell is deleted or the cell is moved, use the INDIRECT worksheet function. For example, if you always want to refer to cell A10, use the following syntax:
=INDIRECT("A10")