Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Tracing Precedent Cells.
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 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Tracing Precedent Cells.
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2014-06-25 08:21:05
I am on a large spreadsheet and I want to leave trace Precedents on even after I save my work. Is this possible?
Thank you
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: 
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