Microsoft Office

Part IV
Using Advanced Excel Features
FIGURE 32.11
Using the Error Checking dialog box to cycle through potential errors identified by Excel.
Using Excel Formula Evaluator
Excel’s Formula Evaluator lets you see the various parts of a nested formula evaluated in the order that the formula
is calculated. To use the Formula Evaluator, select the cell that contains the formula and choose Formula ➪
Formula Auditing ➪ Evaluate Formula to display the Evaluate Formula dialog box (see Figure 32.12).
FIGURE 32.12
Excel’s Formula Evaluator shows a formula being calculated one step at a time.
Click the Evaluate button to show the result of calculating the expressions within the formula. Each click of
the button performs another calculation. This feature may seem a bit complicated at first, but if you spend
some time working with it, you’ll understand how it works and see the value.
Excel provides another way to evaluate a part of a formula:
1. Select the cell that contains the formula.
2. Press F2 to get into cell edit mode.
3. Use your mouse to highlight the portion of the formula you want to evaluate. Or, press Shift
and use the arrow keys.
4. Press F9.
The highlighted portion of the formula displays the calculated result. You can evaluate other parts of the
formula or press Esc to cancel and return your formula to its previous state.
CAUTION
Be careful when using this technique, because if you press Enter (rather than Escape), the formula
will be modified to use the calculated values.
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