Tracing Precedent Cells

Summary: When auditing a worksheet, you can use a tool that will show cells on which the current cell depends.. This allows you to quickly and visually see which cells affect the current cell. This tip explains the Trace Precedents tool, which provides this information. (This tip works with Microsoft Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, and Excel 2003.)

Excel allows you to display precedent cells in much the same way as you do dependent cells, as described in the previous tip. All you need to do is select the cell whose precedents you want to see, and then click the Trace Precedents tool on the Auditing toolbar. Excel graphically displays arrows that show the relationship between the selected cell and any other cells in the worksheet. If you click on the tool again, the next level of precedent cells are displayed.

Precedent arrows are removed either by clicking on the Remove Precedent Arrows tool or by clicking on the Remove All Arrows tool.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2245) applies to Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

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Tracing Precedent Cells