Formula changes for different users

Question

I have an excel spreadsheet that uses drop down lists that is linked to a source code sheet that generates a report. I sent this document to colleagues who will fill it in and use it to track data, but for some reason the report I set up is not working for them even though the drop down boxes etc. seem to function. It looks like the formula seems to change when they open it so that the report references the wrong columns in the spreadsheet, which is odd because I added the symbol "$" to prevent this. For example in my document the formula reads:

=COUNTIFS('1. Tracker'!$C$9:$C$200,">=01/09/2013",'1. Tracker'!$C$9:$C$200,"<=30/09/2013",'1. Tracker'!$M$9:$M$200,"Planned")

This counts the number of planned meetings in the month of september. But when they open the document (and it isn't everyone, just some people this happens to) the same formula box for this cell reads:

=COUNTIFS('1. Tracker'!$C$9:$C$200,">=01/09/2013",'1. Tracker'!$C$9:$C$200,"<=30/09/2013",'1. Tracker'!$K$9:$K$200,"Planned")

Which references the wrong column ("K" instead of "M"). How is this possible? And is there a way I can fix it on my end (secure the right formula) and send it back to them?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Answer 1

It appears that the recipients accidentally deleted two columns.  This would cause the formulas to change.