[comp.sys.ibm.pc] Multiplan Question

butterworth@mscf.med.upenn.edu (10/18/89)

I'm new to this group and aren't sure whether it's primarily hardware or
software related, but I do have a software question. 

I'm using Multiplan V2.01 (don't laugh; someone gave it to me and I can't
afford Lotus right now) and need to copy formulas from one column to another.
If I have a formula of, say, SUM(R6C10:R6C15) and I copy it to the cell below,
it simply duplicates the formula.  What I want it to do (am I dreaming,
possibly) is modify the entry so that it takes the new row into consideration,
i.e. SUM(R7C10:R7C15).  Is this possible? 

Thanks in advance.


Internet: butterworth@a1.mscf.upenn.edu

les@chinet.chi.il.us (Leslie Mikesell) (10/19/89)

In article <128@mscf.med.upenn.edu> butterworth@mscf.med.upenn.edu writes:
>I'm new to this group and aren't sure whether it's primarily hardware or
>software related, but I do have a software question. 
>
>I'm using Multiplan V2.01 (don't laugh; someone gave it to me and I can't
>afford Lotus right now) and need to copy formulas from one column to another.
>If I have a formula of, say, SUM(R6C10:R6C15) and I copy it to the cell below,
>it simply duplicates the formula.  What I want it to do (am I dreaming,
>possibly) is modify the entry so that it takes the new row into consideration,
>i.e. SUM(R7C10:R7C15).  Is this possible? 

Multiplan (and most other spreadsheets) has both absolute and relative
references.  The RnCn type reference that you show is absolute and does
not adjust when moved.  In Multiplan, a relative reference will look
something like R[+n]C  (where n is a number).  The easiest way to get
them is to use the arrow keys to postion to the cell you want to reference
when you enter the formula.  There are times that you want want both
types of reference, but for "sum of column" type things, relative is
the type you need.

Les Mikesell
  les@chinet.chi.il.us

wozniak@utkux1.utk.edu (Bryon Lape) (10/20/89)

	Why worry about getting Lotus?  It sucks.  There are half a
dozen spreadsheets that are just as good.


-bryon-

leonard@bucket.UUCP (Leonard Erickson) (10/21/89)

butterworth@mscf.med.upenn.edu writes:

>I'm using Multiplan V2.01 (don't laugh; someone gave it to me and I can't
>afford Lotus right now) and need to copy formulas from one column to another.
>If I have a formula of, say, SUM(R6C10:R6C15) and I copy it to the cell below,
>it simply duplicates the formula.  What I want it to do (am I dreaming,
>possibly) is modify the entry so that it takes the new row into consideration,
>i.e. SUM(R7C10:R7C15).  Is this possible? 

Your current formula is using *absolute* addressing. You need to change it
to use *relative* addressing. When you first enter formula do it like this:
	press the = key to get into value/formula entry mode
	type "sum("
	now use the arrow keys to move to the first cell of the range
	type ":" (you'll be returned to the cell the formula is in)
	arrow over to the *last* cell of the range
		(note that the range is highlighted for you!)
	type ")" to finish the formula

If you want to edit the existing formula just change it to indicate the
*displacement*. For your example, here's what the relative formula would
look like in various cells:
	row 	formula			better formula
	r5	sum(r[-1]c10:r[-1]c15)	sum(r[-1] c10:15)
	r6	sum(rc10:rc15)		sum(r c10:15)
	r7	sum(r[+1]c10:r[+1]c15)	sum(r[+1] c10:15)

the "better formula" uses the Multiplan feature of specifying a range as
the intersect of a pair or ranges. I have spreadsheets with formulas like
sum(year r) (ie the sum of the values in the current row that are also in
the named range "year")


-- 
Leonard Erickson		...!tektronix!reed!percival!bucket!leonard
CIS: [70465,203]
"I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools.
Let's start with typewriters." -- Solomon Short