The INDIRECT function accepts text, and evaluates that text as a reference.

As a result, the text is not susceptible to changes, like a normal cell reference.

It will continue to evaluate to the same location regardless of changes to the worksheet.

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Sheet names

Formulas with sheet names must follow standard rules.

This happens because the reference is entered as text and therefore is not automatically updated like a normal reference.

INDIRECT is useful when you want to assemble a text value that can be used as a valid reference.

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Excel formula: Lookup with variable sheet name

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Excel INDIRECT function