In this Bite-Size Excel article, we’re going to explore a quick shortcut that can make it easier to switch between absolute and relative cell references. If you’re already familiar with absolute and relative cell references, you know that to lock a cell column or row, you need to put a dollar sign in front of the letter or number.
Fortunately, there’s a way to make this process even faster by using a keyboard shortcut. That shortcut is F4. Instead of manually typing the dollar signs, you can press F4 to switch between absolute and relative cell references.
For example, let’s say you’re using the VLOOKUP function and you want to lock the value to the column only. You can type the formula “=VLOOKUP(B1,$C$1:$D$10,2,FALSE)” and then press F4 once to lock it to the column. Pressing F4 again will lock it to the row, and pressing it a third time will lock it to the column and row.
It’s worth noting that you can also make changes to existing formulas using this shortcut. Simply click on the cell you want to change and then press F4 to switch between absolute and relative cell references. However, be careful when changing the second part of the formula, as pressing F4 at the end will only change that part.
Overall, using the F4 shortcut is a quick and easy way to switch between absolute and relative cell references in Excel on Mac. It’s a useful trick to have in your arsenal, especially if you frequently work with formulas. Give it a try and see how much time it can save you!