Google sheets

[slicedpage]

I am trying to create a simple spreadsheet in google sheets. Its a vehicle milage record. under column A1 is start milage,under column B1 end milage and under column C1 the total milage used for that day.  I enter a formula that deducts start figure from end figure and that figure shows up in column  C1, all well and good but to avoid having to enter the end figure manually each day I want to copy and paste relative values to each descending line in column C. In excel you can copy the formula (B1-A1=C1 ) right click the cell below select relative paste and from then on the software knows to enter the formula with A2,B2 and C2 . Does anyone here know how I can do this is google sheets,cos google sheets forum does not !  I know I am missing something simple,I hope you guys might know. Thanks

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

In Excel your formula has to start with an equals sign. It will only calculate formulas in the format " =(B1-A1)". You do not need to add C1 at the end. That might be the reason why you're running into that problem.  

[C_Mike]

I'm pretty sure that should work in Google Sheets.

 

If you're trying to just copy the formula then ctrl-c vtrl-v should work and if you copy something like =B1-A1  and paste it to row two it should become =B2-A2, i've just tried it myself and it works just fine

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

Just to show as an example:

[Enderman]

try this:

• select the box that you just made =(B1-A1)
• see that little dot on the bottom right hand corner
• drag that corner down to multiple boxes

[slicedpage]

7 minutes ago, BlueChinchillaEatingDorito said:

In Excel your formula has to start with an equals sign. It will only calculate formulas in the format " =(B1-A1)". You do not need to add C1 at the end. That might be the reason why you're running into that problem.  

yes I know,I only gave that format as an example of what I wanted to do in google sheets. The formula is not the problem its the pasting of it that is

[slicedpage]

7 minutes ago, Enderman said:

try this:

• select the box that you just made =(B1-A1)
• see that little dot on the bottom right hand corner
• drag that corner down to multiple boxes

reaches over and shakes your hand vigorously....thank you,thank you,thank you

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

5 minutes ago, slicedpage said:

yes I know,I only gave that format as an example of what I wanted to do in google sheets. The formula is not the problem its the pasting of it that is

Try clicking on the square at the bottom right corner and drag down. This automatically copies the formula down the column. It also automatically adjusts the cell numbers in the formula to match the row. So for the second row, B1 and A1 will be automatically changed to B2 and A2. This also applies to Excel.