Page 79 - Excel Data Analysis

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CREATING FORMULAS 4

You can view a graphical representation of your formula by
clicking Tools ➪ Formula Auditing ➪ Trace Precedents. This
option draws a blue arrow from each cell containing an
argument to the formula cell. By selecting this option, you
can visually identify the exact cells required to make your
formula execute properly. You can use this option only on
one cell at a time.
If you want to find out which formulas use a specific cell as
an argument, you can view a graphical representation of
the cells by clicking Tools ➪ Formula Auditing ➪ Trace
Dependents. This option draws blue arrows to each cell
that contains a formula that uses the active cell as an
argument. By displaying the dependent cells for a cell, you
visually identify the formulas that require the cell. If you
perform this option before deleting a value from a cell, you
can quickly determine if your deletion affects any formulas
on your worksheet. You can remove arrows that are drawn
for dependents or precedents on a worksheet by clicking
Tools ➪ Formula Auditing ➪ Remove All Arrows.

■ Excel evaluates the first ■ You can click Step In to ■ When all arguments are ■ You can click Restart to
argument. view the contents of a calculated, Excel calculates step through the formula
referenced cell. the associated function and again.
› Continue clicking displays the result of the
Evaluate to view the result ■ You can click Step Out formula. ■ Click Close to close the
of each argument. to continue the evaluation Evaluate Formula dialog box.
process after you have
clicked Step In.
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