Circular references

**FSUdawg85** · 10-09-2012, 08:00 AM

I'm using the average of column A to multiply by all of my column B inputs to get column C answers. Excel is saying that I have created a circular reference? This is my formula:

=$A$1*B2

This doesn't seem difficult but apparently I'm missing something. Column B is the sum of a few other columns but none of which are A, B, or C.

**nicdyb** · 10-09-2012, 08:04 AM

can you show us your workbook?

**dilipandey** · 10-09-2012, 08:05 AM

Hi FSUdawg85,

And where (in which column) you are putting this formula?

Also, check if column B is getting referenced from the column in which you are applying the formula. thanks.

Regards,
DILIPandey

<click on below 'star' if this helps>

**FSUdawg85** · 10-09-2012, 08:09 AM

Unfortunately I can't share the work book. In the bottom left of the screen it is now showing me several circular references in newly created formulas. This formula is in column C.

I think what may help is if I better understood what a "circular reference" is. I assumed, it was simply that you can't perform a function the same cell you are working in. Ex: A1=A1*B1

**nicdyb** · 10-09-2012, 08:11 AM

Circular reference means a cell in your formula is based on another cell, and that other cell is somehow connected to the cell you are working in. Meaning it would in theory increase for every time it did the calculation.

**FSUdawg85** · 10-09-2012, 10:12 AM

Thanks guys helped me where to further look for the problem. I was trying to create a Minimum function that would exclude "0's" and I got it figured out. I've not seen a lot of good help out there on this one that doesn't invole arrays or long formulas. For those of you in the future searching for help on this:
=SMALL((data range),((COUNTIF((data range),0)+1))

I'm so glad I joined this site. Why did I wait so long...?