Breaking Down Excel Formulas (Completed)

In this session, author and Excel expert David Ringstrom, CPA, shares techniques you can use to verify the integrity of even the most complicated Excel workbooks. Features covered include Show Formulas, Evaluate Formulas, Trace Precedents, and the FORMULATEXT function. David will contrast editing traditional formulas with dynamic array formulas in Excel 2021 and Excel for Microsoft 365 and writing formulas by using structured references.

David is the author of “Exploring Microsoft Excel's Hidden Treasures: Turbocharge your Excel proficiency with expert tips, automation techniques, and overlooked features”. He demonstrates every technique at least twice: first, on a PowerPoint slide with numbered steps, and second, in the subscription-based Excel for Microsoft 365. David draws your attention to any differences in Excel 2021, 2019 or 2016 during the presentation and in his detailed handouts. The handouts include an Excel workbook with most of the examples he uses during his demonstrations.

Excel for Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based product that receives periodic feature updates. Conversely, perpetually licensed versions have year numbers in their names and do not receive any feature updates.

Topics Covered

• Utilizing the Error Checking command to locate cells that contain errors within a worksheet
• Utilizing the FORMULATEXT function to display a formula from one cell in another cell
• Utilizing the New Window and Arrange Windows commands to view two different worksheets simultaneously
• Sorting lists of data dynamically from elsewhere in a spreadsheet with the new SORT function
• Utilizing keyboard shortcuts to identify precedent and dependent worksheet cells
• Saving time writing formulas by choosing named ranges with the Use In Formula command
• Determining whether formulas within tables use cell references or field names
• Removing the Table feature from Excel spreadsheets once it's no longer needed or simply erasing the alternate row shading
• Displaying all formulas in a worksheet at once with the Show Formulas feature
• Identifying other cells a formula relies on by way of the Trace Precedents feature
• Transforming cell references into range names by way of the Apply Range Names to Formulas command
• Creating a macro that will create an Excel comment that contains the cell contents as a means of visually displaying formulas

Learning Objectives

• Recognize which version(s) of Excel offer the FILTER function
• Recognize the color that dynamic array functions are displayed in within Excel's formula bar in all cells except the cell where the formulas was entered
• State which menu the Trace Dependents command appears on in Excel

Level
Basic

Instructional Method
Group: Internet-based

NASBA Field of Study
Specialized Knowledge and Applications (2 hours)

Program Prerequisites
None

Advance Preparation
None