How to trace a formula error

Abstract

Transcript

In this video we’ll look at how to trace a formula error.

Here we have a simple sales summary for a team of salespeople over a period of 4 months.

F11 in turn includes a reference to F9, which also displays the NA error.

So, the first thing to notice is that one error often leads to another.

If I pop in a zero into cell F9, all the errors are resolved at once.

Let me undo that and let’s look at a tool that can make this visual tracing easier.

On the Formulas tab of theRibbon, under Error Checking, you’ll find an option called Trace Error.

Excel will draw errors in red that indicate the source of the problem.

choose the Remove Arrows button to remove the arrows.

If I select C17, then hit the Smart Tag, I can select Trace Error in the menu.

Once I fix that problem all errors are resolved, and the red arrows are replaced by blue arrows.