Excel INDIRECT Function
Summary
The Excel INDIRECT function returns a valid reference from a given text string. Use INDIRECT when you need to convert a reference assembled as text into a proper reference.
Purpose
Create a reference from text
Return value
A valid worksheet reference.
Syntax
=INDIRECT (ref_text, [a1])
Arguments
- ref_text - A reference supplied as text.
- a1 - [optional] A boolean to indicate A1 or R1C1-style reference. Default is TRUE = A1 style.
Usage notes
Use INDIRECT to create or supply a reference in text form. Indirect is useful when you want to convert a text value into a valid cell reference.
The reference created by INDIRECT will not change even when cells, rows, or columns are inserted or deleted. For example, the formula =INDIRECT("A1:A100") will always refer to the first 100 rows of column A, even if rows in that range are deleted or inserted.
- References created by INDIRECT are evaluated in real time and the content of the reference is displayed.
- When ref_text is an external reference to another workbook, the workbook must be open.
- a1 is optional. When omitted, a1 is TRUE = A1 style reference.
- When a1 is set to FALSE, INDIRECT will created a an R1C1-style reference.