How to Keep a Cell Value Constant Using Keystrokes
Spreadsheet programs, such as Microsoft Office, OpenOffice Calc and GoogleDocs, collect data from other cells using cell references. If you copy or move a formula to another cell, its cell references change to reflect the formula's new position. To keep these values constant, you need to format the formula to use absolute references, which are indicated by a dollar sign before the column letters and row numbers, such as "$A$1." Changing each cell reference in a lengthy formula can be tedious, but most spreadsheet programs allow shortcut keystrokes which change all cell references simultaneously.
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Instructions
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Open your spreadsheet in a spreadsheet program, such as Microsoft Excel, OpenOffice Calc or GoogleDocs.
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Double-click the cell you wish to make constant. Click and drag your mouse across the entire formula to select it. This is necessary in Microsoft Excel and GoogleDocs, but you only need to click a cell in OpenOffice Calc. If you wish to change only part of a formula, you can still use this technique to highlight the portion of the formula you wish to change.
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Press "F4" in Microsoft Excel or GoogleDocs to make all highlighted cell references change to absolute references. Hold the "Shift" key and press "F4" to make OpenOffice Calc cell references constant.
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