IF function - keep same referenced logical test value

Question

I have a table with 1000+ rows in Sheet 1. In this same sheet, in a different column, say starting at D2, I'd like to evaluate the value of all the cells in column C, with a defined referenced valued in Sheet 2, cell B2. Here's the use of my IF function
which produces the correct result:
=IF(C2=Sheet2!B2, "Yes", "No")
However, keeping in mind that I have a 1000+ rows in Sheet 1, when after using the above function in D2, when I hold down the CTRL key to copy this function all the way down to D1000+, the referenced cells are also increased by a factor of 1. So
for instance, while D2's formula is shown as above, D3 would be, =IF(C3=Sheet2!B3, "Yes", "No"), and D4's, =IF(C4=Sheet2!B4, "Yes", "No"), so on and so forth.
What I'd like to do is, is to keep the referenced value, in my case B2 unchanged, as in =IF(C3=Sheet2!B2, "Yes", "No") or =IF(C303=Sheet2!B2, "Yes", "No").
Not sure if I've explained my situation clearly enough to decipher, but I'm hoping to find a quick way to accomplish this without having to change each cell's value so that it only references B2 and not automatically increment.
Any help/suggestion would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

Hello,
if you want the reference to Sheet2!B2 to remain exactly the same when the formula is copied down, you need to make it an absolute reference by adding $ signs in front of the column letter and the row number
=IF(C2=Sheet2!$B$2, "Yes", "No")
The $ sign makes the reference absolute, so it points to exactly that row and/or column.
If you add a $ sign before the column letter, that column letter will not change when the formula is copied to the right.
If you add a $ sign before the row number, that row number will not change when the formula is copied down.
=A1 copied down will be =A2
=A1 copied across will be =B1
If you add $ signs in front of the column letter or row number then ...
=$A1 copied across will stay =$A1 but copied down, the row will adjust to =$A2
=A$1 copied down will stay =A$1, but copied across, the column will adjust to =B$1
=$A$1 will always stay as =$A$1 no matter if it is copied across or down.
The $ sign is  called "absolute referencing". A cell address without the $ signs is a relative address, because it will change depending on the position it is  copied to.
cheers, teylyn