Update references in other worksheets while deleting blank columns and rows in a worksheet

When you delete blank columns and rows in a worksheet, then its references in other worksheets become invalid. If you want to avoid this behavior and want those references to be updated as well, then please use the DeleteOptions.UpdateReference and set it true.

Update references in other worksheets while deleting blank columns and rows in a worksheet

Please see the following sample code and its console output. The cell E3 in the second worksheet has a formula =Sheet1!C3 which is referring to cell C3 in the first worksheet. If you will set DeleteOptions.UpdateReference property as true, this formula will be updated and become =Sheet1!A1 on deleting blank columns and rows in the first worksheet. However, if you will set DeleteOptions.UpdateReference property as false, the formula in cell E3 of the second worksheet will remain =Sheet1!C3 and become invalid.

Console Output

This is the console output of the above sample code when DeleteOptions.UpdateReference property has been set as true.

 Cell E3 before deleting blank columns and rows in Sheet1.

\--------------------------------------------------------

Cell Formula: =Sheet1!C1

Cell Value: 4


Cell E3 after deleting blank columns and rows in Sheet1.

\--------------------------------------------------------

Cell Formula: =Sheet1!A1

Cell Value: 4

This is the console output of the above sample code when DeleteOptions.UpdateReference property has been set as false. As you can see, the formula in cell E3 of the second worksheet is not updated and its cell value is now 0 instead of 4 which is invalid.

 Cell E3 before deleting blank columns and rows in Sheet1.

\--------------------------------------------------------

Cell Formula: =Sheet1!C1

Cell Value: 4


Cell E3 after deleting blank columns and rows in Sheet1.

\--------------------------------------------------------

Cell Formula: =Sheet1!C1

Cell Value: 0