How to Compare an Excel Column with a Fixed Cell Using a Formula in WPS Office
Question details
The user wants to compare every value in a column with one fixed cell by using a formula that keeps the fixed cell constant when filled down or across.
- Product
- WPS Office Spreadsheets / Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating a comparison formula in a workbook where one fixed cell is the reference point and each row or column value must be compared to it.
- Observed behavior
- The fixed reference should remain locked while relative references adjust as the formula is filled down or across.
Open the worksheet and identify the fixed cell you want to compare against and the first cell containing a value to compare. Make sure the result area is empty so the filled formula does not overwrite existing data.
Use Absolute and Relative References to Compare a Column with a Fixed Cell
Use this solution when you need to subtract or compare each row against one constant cell and copy the formula down or across.
The dollar sign before the column letter and row number in $A$1 locks the fixed cell. The relative reference D1 changes to D2, D3, and so on as the formula is filled, so each row is compared against the same fixed value.
Click the cell where you want to show the first comparison result, such as E1.
Type =$A$1-$D1 or =$D1-$A$1 depending on the required direction, then press Enter. Replace A1 with your fixed cell and D1 with the first comparison cell.
Select the result cell, hover over the fill handle in the lower-right corner, and drag down the column or across the row to apply the formula to the remaining values.
Compare an Excel Column with a Fixed Cell in WPS Office Spreadsheets
Use WPS Office Spreadsheets to lock a fixed reference with $A$1 and fill the comparison formula down a column or across a row in an Excel-compatible workbook.
- 1. Open WPS Office Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Office Spreadsheets and open the workbook that contains the column and fixed cell.
- 2. Select the first result cell: Click the cell where you want the first comparison result to appear, next to the first value in the column.
- 3. Enter the absolute-reference formula: Type =$A$1-$D1 or =$D1-$A$1, replace A1 with your fixed cell and D1 with the first comparison cell, then press Enter.
- 4. Fill the formula down the column: Drag the fill handle from the lower-right corner of the result cell down the column, or double-click the fill handle to fill the formula to the last adjacent row.
- 5. Review the results: Check that the $A$1 reference remains fixed in each row and that the relative reference changes correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I keep one cell constant when copying a formula in WPS Office Spreadsheets?
Add a dollar sign before the column letter and row number, such as $A$1. Select the cell reference in the formula bar and press F4 to cycle through absolute and relative reference types.
Can I compare a column to a fixed cell without typing the dollar signs manually?
Yes. While editing the formula, click or select the fixed cell reference and press F4. WPS Office Spreadsheets will insert the $ symbols to lock the row and column.
What is the difference between $A$1, $A1, and A$1?
$A$1 locks both the column and row. $A1 locks only the column, so the row can change when filled down. A$1 locks only the row, so the column can change when filled across.
How do I apply the formula to the entire column quickly?
Enter the formula in the first result cell, select it, and double-click the fill handle in the lower-right corner. WPS Office fills the formula down to the last adjacent row automatically.
Why does my fixed cell change when I copy the formula?
The fixed cell reference is missing the $ symbols. Use $A$1 instead of A1 to keep both the column and row locked when the formula is filled down or across.
