Excel INDIRECT Function

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.