How to Multiply an Excel Column by a Fixed Cell Value in WPS Office Spreadsheets
Question details
The user wants to multiply every value in column D by the fixed value in cell E1 and return the products in column E without the fixed reference changing during copy or fill.
- Product
- WPS Office Spreadsheets
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Working with a spreadsheet where a fixed multiplier is stored in E1 and needs to be applied to a column of values in D2:D15.
- Observed behavior
- The expected result is for E2:E15 to show each D value multiplied by E1, with the E1 reference remaining constant across the entire result range.
Clear the destination range E2:E15 before entering the array or spill formula, and confirm that E1 contains the fixed value you want to use as the multiplier.
Use an Absolute Reference and Spill Formula to Multiply the Whole Column
This is the fastest method when you want one formula to return all results in E2:E15 and keep the fixed cell locked.
Using $E$1 creates an absolute reference to the fixed multiplier, while D2:D15 references all source values at once. Newer WPS Office versions can spill the results automatically; older versions accept the same formula as a multi-cell array formula.
Click cell E2 and drag to E15, or type E2:E15 in the Name Box and press Enter.
In the formula bar, type =D2:D15*$E$1. Do not type the curly braces manually.
In WPS Office versions that support dynamic arrays, press Enter. The products fill E2:E15 automatically.
If the results do not spill, press Ctrl+Shift+Enter instead. WPS Spreadsheets enters the formula as a multi-cell array formula and fills the selected destination.
Use a Fill Handle with a Locked Reference for Row-by-Row Results
Use this method if you prefer a separate formula in each cell from E2 to E15 instead of one spill or array formula.
Multiply a Column by a Fixed Cell in WPS Spreadsheets
In WPS Office Spreadsheets, you can multiply every value in column D by the fixed value in E1 with a single spill formula or a legacy array formula. Use =D2:D15*$E$1 or =D2*$E$1 with Ctrl+Shift+Enter where required, and preserve full compatibility with Microsoft Excel .xlsx files.
- 1. Open the workbook in WPS Office Spreadsheets: Start WPS Office Spreadsheets and open the workbook containing column D and cell E1.
- 2. Select the output range E2:E15: Click E2 and drag down to E15, or type E2:E15 in the Name Box and press Enter.
- 3. Enter the absolute-reference formula: Type =D2:D15*$E$1 in the formula bar while E2:E15 is selected.
- 4. Submit the formula: Press Enter if your WPS version supports spill formulas; otherwise press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to enter it as a multi-cell array formula.
- 5. Check the results: Verify that E2:E15 now shows each D column value multiplied by the fixed E1 value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my formula change from E1 to E2, E3, and so on when I copy it down?
A relative reference like E1 adjusts with the row. Use an absolute reference: =D2*$E$1. The dollar signs lock the column and row, so every copied formula still reads E1 as the multiplier.
Does WPS Office support dynamic array spill formulas like =D2:D15*$E$1?
Recent WPS Office versions support dynamic array behavior and you can press Enter to spill. If your version does not spill, select E2:E15 first and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to enter it as a multi-cell array formula.
What should I do if the formula returns only the first value or fills unexpected cells?
Clear the entire destination range E2:E15, check that no existing data blocks the spill area, then re-enter =D2:D15*$E$1 and press Enter or Ctrl+Shift+Enter depending on your version.
Can I multiply a row by a fixed value using the same technique?
Yes. Select the destination row range, enter a formula such as =D1:I1*$A$1, and press Enter for spill or Ctrl+Shift+Enter for a legacy array formula. The absolute reference locks the fixed multiplier.
Is WPS Spreadsheets compatible with Excel files that contain these formulas?
Yes, WPS Office opens and saves .xlsx workbooks, and the formula syntax with absolute references and array formulas is compatible with Microsoft Excel.
