Comparing Absolute and Relative Macro Recording

Comparing Absolute and Relative Macro Recording

Comparing Absolute and Relative Macro Recording

 

  (Getting Started with Excel Macros)

Now that you've read about the basics of the Macro Recorder interface, it's time to go deeper and begin recording macros. The first thing you need to understand before you begin is that Excel has two modes for recording — absolute reference and relative reference.

Recording macros with absolute references

Excel's default recording mode is in absolute reference. As you may know, the term absolute reference is often used in the context of cell references found in formulas. When a cell reference in a formula is an absolute reference, it does not automatically adjust when the formula is pasted to a new location.

The best way to understand how this concept applies to macros is to try it out. Open the Chapter 1 Sample File.xlsx file and record a macro that counts the rows in the Branch list worksheet. (See Figure 2.)