Some spread sheets can get very complicated, with many cells relying on other cell calculations to deliver information and a change of one cell can have dramatic effects. Formula Auditing will show you which cells are connected. In the example below we are going to use the screen shot below to trace cells that are preceding or dependent on the active cell.
Applies To: MS Excel 2003, 2007 and 2010
- To trace all cells that are preceding:
a. Select cell D6
b. From the Formulas tab, in the Formula Auditing group, select Trace Precedents
c. The result will be as below; implying that D3:D5 are precedents for the formula in D6
d. By double clicking on the blue line the reference (D3:D5) will be selected
e. From the Formulas tab, in the Formula Auditing group, select Remove Arrows
2. To trace dependent cells
a. Select cell B3
b. From the Formulas tab, in the Formula Auditing group, select Trace dependent
c. The result will be as below; implying that D3 is dependent on cell B3
d. By double clicking on the blue line cell D3 will be selected
e. From the Formulas tab, in the Formula Auditing group, select Remove Arrows
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