Excel Row/Column and number depending on another cell

Question

I have a cell which has to have a relative content based on another cell. For example: if cell A1 has value 4, cell B1 has to take its content from cell "=B(4+2)". In the similar manner, cell C1 has the column value based on the content of another cell. So if the A2 cell value is 6, C1 should take its value from C+6=I column and row 1, something like "=(C+A2)1". Would be great being able to use relative column and relative row!

Is it possible? I was expecting a syntax similar to "=B(1+4)" but doesn't work.

Answer 1

For your first question.

How to get "=B(4+2)"

=INDIRECT("B" & A1 + 2)

Your second question.

How to get "=(C+A2)1"

=INDIRECT(SUBSTITUTE(ADDRESS(1,COLUMN(C1)+A2,4),"1","") & 1)

The formula =SUBSTITUTE(ADDRESS(1,COLUMN(C1),4),"1","") is used to get the column letter. This gives you C. Here to get column I ie C+6 I wrote =SUBSTITUTE(ADDRESS(1,COLUMN(C1)+6,4),"1","") . So the second formula turns out be =INDIRECT(I & 1)

Answer 2

and an alternate form using OFFSET (not advised if using multiple times) is:

=OFFSET($B$2,A1,0,1,1)

and using INDEX (preferred if you have lots to do) is:

=INDEX(B:B,2+A1)

For you other option about traversing columns you can use the exact same formula by changing up your offset direction or reference array in the index as follows:

=OFFSET($C$1,0,A2,1,1)
OR
=INDEX(1:1,COLUMN(C1)+A2)