Are you using somebody else's Excel files, but don't have a clue what's going on? Or perhaps the formulas in the workbook are rather complicated and all over the place, making it hard to tell which cells are used.
Maybe you use the Show Formulas button or the (rather unintuitive keyboard shortcut CTRL+` ; see tip 238 if you don’t know what I’m talking about) but did you know you can display arrows that indicate what cells affect the value of the currently selected cell or those cells that are affected by the value of the currently selected cell?
Here’s how:
1. Select the cell you want to check.
2. On the Formulas tab In the Formula Auditing group, click on the Trace Precedents button to display arrows that indicate what cells affect the value of the currently selected cell. AND/OR
3. On the Formulas tab In the Formula Auditing group, click on the Trace Dependents button to display arrows that show those cells that are affected by the value of the currently selected cell.
A blue tracing arrow is displayed, connecting the selected cell to each of its precedents or dependents, assuming, of course, that the cell has a precedent or dependent.
When you double-click the blue line the cell you toggle between the two cells.To remove tracing arrows from a worksheet, click on the Remove Arrows button in the Formula Auditing group on the Formulas tab, or click on the arrow next to the Remove Arrows button and click on Remove Precedent Arrows or Remove Dependent Arrows.
PS I'm committed to sharing the best of what I know with others so please don't keep these tips a secret. If you enjoyed today's tip, please forward it to anyone you feel may benefit or reprint it (with full copyright and subscription information) in your newsletters and message boards. Got a tip to share? Submit it by emailing karen@roem.co.uk - if your tip is selected, I'll publish it along with your name; the bragging rights will last a lifetime.
28 May 2013
Karen Roem offers software training and support through her company Roem Ltd. Contact her by email (Karen@roem.co.uk) or visit her website at http://www.roem.co.uk
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Tame your computer - simple cell check
28 May 2013
In her regular series for Cambridge Network members, software training expert Karen Roem offers handy tips to help you 'Tame your computer'. This week she describes how to show what cells are affected by or are affecting a certain cell (Excel 2007-2010)...