Microsoft Office

Making Your Worksheets Error-Free 32
n
Cell dependents: These formula cells depend on a particular cell. A cell’s dependents consist of
all formula cells that use the cell. Again, the formula cell can be a direct dependent or an indirect
dependent.
For example, consider this simple formula entered into cell A4:
=SUM(A1:A3)
Cell A4 has three precedent cells (A1, A2, and A3), which are all direct precedents. Cells A1, A2, and A3
each have a dependent cell (cell A4), and they’re all direct dependents.
Identifying cell precedents for a formula cell often sheds light on why the formula isn’t working correctly.
Conversely, knowing which formula cells depend on a particular cell is also helpful. For example, if you’re
about to delete a formula, you may want to check to see whether it has any dependents.
Identifying precedents
You can identify cells used by a formula in the active cell in a number of ways:
n
n
n
n
n
Press F2. The cells that are used directly by the formula are outlined in color, and the color corresponds
to the cell reference in the formula. This technique is limited to identifying cells on the
same sheet as the formula.
Display the Go To Special dialog box (choose Home ➪ Editing ➪ Find & Select ➪ Go To
Special). Select the Precedents option and then select either Direct Only (for direct precedents
only) or All Levels (for direct and indirect precedents). Click OK, and Excel selects the precedent
cells for the formula. This technique is limited to identifying cells on the same sheet as the formula.
Press Ctrl+[ to select all direct precedent cells on the active sheet.
Press Ctrl+Shift+{ to select all precedent cells (direct and indirect) on the active sheet.
Choose Formulas ➪ Formula Auditing ➪ Trace Precedents, and Excel will draw arrows to
indicate the cell’s precedents. Click this button multiple times to see additional levels of precedents.
Choose Formulas ➪ Formula Auditing ➪ Remove Arrows to hide the arrows. Figure 32.8 shows a
worksheet with precedent arrows drawn to indicate the precedents for the formula in cell C13.
FIGURE 32.8
This worksheet displays arrows that indicate cell precedents for the formula in cell C13.
563