Microsoft Excel: Referencing Cells in Different WorkSheets

In the commercial world it is often more advantageous to split your Microsoft Excel data onto multiple worksheets rather than packing all of the data onto one single Microsoft Excel worksheet. Consequently, if you are going to split your data across multiple excel worksheets you will need to be able to reference that data. The name given to those references are called 3-D References.

The way you write the 3-D Reference is as follows:

WorksheetName!CellAddress

You can include 3-D References in your formulas by simply typing the reference into the cell or by selecting each cell in each worksheet as you create the formula. It is also possible to have the 3D-Reference created for you without actually typing the value in. The first step is to type the equals sign in the cell where you want the 3-D Reference to go and then simply click on the worksheet where the cell is you want to use and then select the cell. You will now notice in the Entry area the cells 3-D Reference.

It is also possible to refer to a range of cells using a 3-D Reference on multiple worksheets or for multiple cells.

For example you may want to reference the same cell on three different worksheets. To do this all you would actually do is simply type in the name of the worksheet, then press the colon key and then type the name of the last worksheet. All worksheets between the first and last worksheet would be included in the reference. Below is a 3-D reference to three worksheets and a single cell address.

Sales:Purchases!G6

You can also create a 3-D Reference for a range of cells. You do this by simply by typing the first cell and then a colon with the last cell in the range. Below is an example of a 3D Reference with a range.

Sales!G1:H4

There are many different reasons why you will use 3-D References in Microsoft Excel but the most common one will be to add up values from multiple worksheets and it is important to know how to structure the reference correctly.

If you would like to learn Microsoft Excel in detail simply goto our website Microsoft Excel Training. We also have cheatsheets to help you learn your shortcuts at Excel Shortcuts.