Excel 2010 Bible

Chapter 32: Making Your Worksheets Error-Free

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Figure 32.8 shows an example of a worksheet displayed in two windows. The window on the top

shows Normal view (formula results), and the window on the bottom displays the formulas.

Choosing View ➪ Window ➪ View Side by Side, which allows synchronized scrolling, is also use-

ful for viewing two windows. (See Chapter 4 for more information about this command.)

FIGURE 32.8

Displaying formulas (bottom window) and their results (top window).

Tracing cell relationships

To understand how to trace cell relationships, you need to familiarize yourself with the following

two concepts:

l Cell precedents: Applicable only to cells that contain a formula, a formula cell’s prece-

dents are all the cells that contribute to the formula’s result. A direct precedent is a cell that

you use directly in the formula. An indirect precedent is a cell that isn’t used directly in the

formula but is used by a cell that you refer to in the formula.

l Cell dependents: These formula cells depend upon a particular cell. A cell’s dependents

consist of all formula cells that use the cell. Again, the formula cell can be a direct depen-

dent or an indirect dependent.

For example, consider this simple formula entered into cell A4:

=SUM(A1:A3)