Troubleshoot tracing dependent, precedent, and error cells

Microsoft Office Excel 2003

All tracer arrows disappear if you change the formula the arrows point to, insert or delete columns or rows, or delete or move cells. To restore the tracer arrows after making any of these changes, you must use auditing commands on the worksheet again.

ShowTip

To keep track of the original tracer arrows, print the worksheet with the tracer arrows displayed before you make the changes.

ShowMicrosoft Excel beeps when I click the Trace Dependents button or the Trace Precedents button.

If Microsoft Excel beeps when you click Trace Dependents Button image or Trace Precedents Button image on the Formula Auditing toolbar, either Excel has traced all levels of the formula, or you are attempting to trace an item that cannot be traced. The following items on worksheets that can be referenced by formulas cannot be traced by using the auditing tools:

  • References to text boxes, embedded charts, or pictures on worksheets
  • PivotTable reports
  • References to named constants
  • Formulas located in another workbook that refer to the active cell if the other workbook is closed

ShowWhen I try to trace errors, Excel stops before it finds the source of the error.

  • If more than one error path exists, Excel stops tracing at the branch point when you use Trace Error Button image. To continue tracing the error, click Trace Error Button image again.

  • If the formula that displays the error contains a reference to another worksheet or workbook, double-click the arrow that displays the worksheet icon worksheet icon. In the Go to list, double-click the reference you want to locate. Then, click Trace Error Button image again.

ShowI receive an error when I try to go to a cell in another workbook.

When you are tracing formula dependencies or precedents, Excel cannot go to a cell in a workbook that is not open. Open the workbook that contains the cell, and then try going to the cell again.