Excel has a feature called the formula function which is about one of the most useful things that any employee or business owner can use. In case of evaluating large amounts of data, this formula function feature of Excel proves especially useful. Sometimes you have to do extra analysis on completed worksheets that you are given. It sometimes becomes difficult to see where all of the functions of the file are or where they are coming from. In case this happens, knowing how to use the formula audit toolbar is essential.

    Formula audit can be done in many different ways. You can click on the Excel ribbon tab named Formulas and see the tab named Formula Auditing. You would have to customize the ribbon to see this option. The various ways you can audit a formula are:

     * Trace Precedents- using trace precedents, you can see all the cells involved in calculating a certain value. When this is active, the cells are bordered by a blue box with an arrow pointing the direction in which the information flows. To use this option, click on the cell that has the formula in it, and click the Trace Precedent button. All of the cells utilized to create formula in that cell will be highlighted in blue. You can remove the arrows from this section as well by selecting the remove arrow buttons in this same section. If there are no trace precedents, then Excel will send a message.

     * Show Formulas Function- If you want to see which cells are driven by formula and wish to review all of your formulas thoroughly at a glance then this feature can prove very useful to you. Instead of looking at the function bar and selecting each individual cell, all you have to do is to click on the show formulas button in the formula auditing section. By doing this, you can view all of the formulas of the cells instead of their value.

     * Trace Dependence Function- This feature allows you to see all of the formulas that a particular selected cell is used in. In case you have a value that is utilized in multiple formulas in the entire spreadsheet then you have to click on that cell, select the trace dependence function and you will see that all of the cells containing that formula where that value is used will be highlighted by blue arrows pointing from that cell to the formulas that it is used in. You can then remove the arrows in this same section by opting for the Remove Arrows button.

     * Error Checking- Error checking is extremely helpful when the spreadsheet is huge and you are unsure about whether all of the formulas are putting through to the end in a correct fashion. Click on the Error Checking button in Excel to trigger the error checker that will check all of the present errors in your formulas and debug the entire spreadsheet.

 So formula auditing is that easy to do in Excel with a few tricks and tips.