Excel question. How to lock a cell in a formula

[tiredtoo]

I have done this many times in the past but don't remember how. ie =sum(b1:b500) what do i put in front of B1 to make it constant? Rather than going down a step when copying it down. ie =sum(b2:b501)

[Turbineguy]

1. $

I think.

[sanatanadharma]

2. Yes, $A$1 to 'lock' cell A1

[tiredtoo]

3. thanks EOM

[taxi]

4. Naming the cell works good too

Naming cells and ranges gets rid of the problems of having to fix formula when things get moved around.
Using your example: give the range of b2:b501 a name, call it betslost
Your formula would be =sum(betslost)
It won't matter if rows or columns are inserted or deleted, for example: you inserted six more columns. Now what was in B is now in column G. Wherever the formula =sum(betslost) appears still works.

[twodogsbarking]

5. I think it was f4 but the f's are gone from today's keyboards.

[HubertHeaver]

6. Keyboards no longer give an f?