Calligra Sheets · Formulas · Beginner
Absolute and Relative Cell References in Calligra Sheets
Learn $A$1, A$1 and $A1 references in Calligra Sheets with a tax-rate example that stays correct when filled down.
Official documentation reviewed; native application verification pending · Updated 10 October 2026 · Editorial standards
Cell references usually move when a formula is copied. In Calligra Sheets, adding $ before the column letter, row number or both lets you control which part stays fixed.
Example: use one tax rate for many items
Enter these values:
| Cell | Value |
|---|---|
| B2 | 100 |
| B3 | 40 |
| F1 | 0.13 |
In C2 enter:
=B2*$F$1
The first result should be 13. Copy or fill this formula to C3; it should become equivalent to =B3*$F$1 and return 5.2. B2 changes as you move down, while $F$1 remains fixed on the tax-rate cell.
Four reference styles
| Reference | Column fixed? | Row fixed? |
|---|---|---|
B2 |
No | No |
$B$2 |
Yes | Yes |
$B2 |
Yes | No |
B$2 |
No | Yes |
The KDE documentation also describes F4 for cycling through these variants while editing a cell reference. Keyboard behaviour can vary by desktop and laptop function-key settings.
Prevent common problems
$characters belong in formulas; don’t type them into the underlying numeric value.- If every result is unexpectedly identical, check whether you locked the data cell too.
- A copied reference is not a named range. Named references are another technique for shared constants.
- If a percentage is entered as
13rather than0.13or13%, your calculation will be one hundred times too large.
See the first expense tracker for a basic formula workflow.
Verification status: Reference arithmetic independently checked and the four reference modes are documented by KDE; native-app testing remains pending.
Official source: Application handbook or manual. This guide is an editorial draft prepared for staging; exact menus and outputs must be checked in the target software/version before public release.