Skip to main content

How to keep cell formatting while referencing other sheet cells?

Author Sun Last modified

Generally, the cell only keeps the cell value while referencing other cell, but in this article, I introduce a VBA code to keep the cell values and formatting while referencing another cell, and the cell values and formatting changes as the reference cell changes as below screenshot shown.
keep cell formatting while referencing other sheet

Keep cell formatting while referencing another cell with VBA


Keep cell formatting while referencing another cell with VBA

To handle this job, you just need to run below code.

1. Enable the workbook you use, press Alt + F11 key to enable Microsoft Visual Basic for Application window, and double click on the sheet name which you will place the reference cell in Project-VBAProject pane to show a blank script. In this case, I want to refer to cell A1 in the Sheet1. See screenshot:
double click on the sheet name which you will place the reference cell in the vba code window

2. Paste below code to the script, and in the VBA code, specify the cell references as you need.

VBA: Keep formatting and values while referencing another cell

Private Sub Worksheet_Activate()
'UpdatebyExtendoffice20101024
    Application.EnableEvents = True
End Sub

Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
    If Target.Cells.Count > 1 Or Target.Value = "" Then Exit Sub
    Application.EnableEvents = False
    If Not Intersect(Target, Range("A1")) Is Nothing Then              'Range("A1") the reference cell
        Target.Copy
        ActiveWorkbook.Sheets("Sheet2").Range("B1").PasteSpecial xlPasteAllUsingSourceTheme
                    'Range("B1")the cell linked to reference cell,ActiveWorkbook.Sheets("Sheet2")the sheet which contains linked cell
        Application.CutCopyMode = False
        Target.Select
    End If
    Application.EnableEvents = True
End Sub

Note: A1 is the reference cell, B1 in Sheet 2 is the cell you want to link to the reference cell and keep values and formatting with A1 in Shee1.

Then when you change the values or formatting in cell A1 in Sheet1, the cell B1 in Sheet2 will be changed while clicking at the reference cell twice.

a screenshot of kutools for excel ai

Unlock Excel Magic with Kutools AI

  • Smart Execution: Perform cell operations, analyze data, and create charts—all driven by simple commands.
  • Custom Formulas: Generate tailored formulas to streamline your workflows.
  • VBA Coding: Write and implement VBA code effortlessly.
  • Formula Interpretation: Understand complex formulas with ease.
  • Text Translation: Break language barriers within your spreadsheets.
Enhance your Excel capabilities with AI-powered tools. Download Now and experience efficiency like never before!

Best Office Productivity Tools

🤖 Kutools AI Aide: Revolutionize data analysis based on: Intelligent Execution   |  Generate Code  |  Create Custom Formulas  |  Analyze Data and Generate Charts  |  Invoke Kutools Functions
Popular Features: Find, Highlight or Identify Duplicates   |  Delete Blank Rows   |  Combine Columns or Cells without Losing Data   |   Round without Formula ...
Super Lookup: Multiple Criteria VLookup    Multiple Value VLookup  |   VLookup Across Multiple Sheets   |   Fuzzy Lookup ....
Advanced Drop-down List: Quickly Create Drop Down List   |  Dependent Drop Down List   |  Multi-select Drop Down List ....
Column Manager: Add a Specific Number of Columns  |  Move Columns  |  Toggle Visibility Status of Hidden Columns  |  Compare Ranges & Columns ...
Featured Features: Grid Focus   |  Design View   |   Big Formula Bar    Workbook & Sheet Manager   |  Resource Library (Auto Text)   |  Date Picker   |  Combine Worksheets   |  Encrypt/Decrypt Cells    Send Emails by List   |  Super Filter   |   Special Filter (filter bold/italic/strikethrough...) ...
Top 15 Toolsets12 Text Tools (Add Text, Remove Characters, ...)   |   50+ Chart Types (Gantt Chart, ...)   |   40+ Practical Formulas (Calculate age based on birthday, ...)   |   19 Insertion Tools (Insert QR Code, Insert Picture from Path, ...)   |   12 Conversion Tools (Numbers to Words, Currency Conversion, ...)   |   7 Merge & Split Tools (Advanced Combine Rows, Split Cells, ...)   |   ... and more
Use Kutools in your preferred language – supports English, Spanish, German, French, Chinese, and 40+ others!

Supercharge Your Excel Skills with Kutools for Excel, and Experience Efficiency Like Never Before. Kutools for Excel Offers Over 300 Advanced Features to Boost Productivity and Save Time.  Click Here to Get The Feature You Need The Most...


Office Tab Brings Tabbed interface to Office, and Make Your Work Much Easier

  • Enable tabbed editing and reading in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access, Visio and Project.
  • Open and create multiple documents in new tabs of the same window, rather than in new windows.
  • Increases your productivity by 50%, and reduces hundreds of mouse clicks for you every day!