A computer system executes a spreadsheet application that accepts inputs from a user into a second cell of the spreadsheet document to reproduce a formula existing in a first cell of the spreadsheet. The formula references a first set for reference cells comprising one or more other cells in the spreadsheet document. Each of the one or more other cells in the spreadsheet document is positioned a relative distance from the first cell. The spreadsheet application reproduces the formula in the second cell while maintaining a link to cause any update of the formula in the first cell to be reflected in the second cell, and updates the formula in the second cell to generate a second set of reference cells wherein each cell in the second set of reference cells has a relative distance to the second cell that is equal to the relative distance of a corresponding cell in the first set of reference cells with respect to the first cell.