Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 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: Watching Cell Values.
There's a nifty feature added in Excel 2002 that allows you to keep an eye on the value of certain cells. This is really handy in large worksheets. Let's say that you have a large worksheet, and you want to track the results at two or three cells all over the worksheet. Follow these steps if you are using Excel 2002 or Excel 2003:
That's it—Excel displays the Watch Window, showing the cell and information about it (name, value, formula, etc.) You can add additional cells by simply repeating the two steps for each cell you want to watch.
If you close the Watch Window, you can later display it again by choosing View | Toolbars | Watch Window. You can also delete cells from the Watch Window by selecting the entry and clicking Delete Watch.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2385) applies to Microsoft Excel 2002 and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Watching Cell Values.
Excel Smarts for Beginners! Featuring the friendly and trusted For Dummies style, this popular guide shows beginners how to get up and running with Excel while also helping more experienced users get comfortable with the newest features. Check out Excel 2019 For Dummies today!
Combo boxes can be a great way of getting user input in a worksheet. Here's how to add a combo box to your worksheet and ...
Discover MoreYou can easily add a button to your worksheet that will allow you to run various macros. This tip shows how easy it is.
Discover MoreWhen you no longer need a view, you can get rid of it by deleting it. Deleting unnecessary views is a good idea because ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 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: 
Comments