- If the Circular Reference toolbar is not displayed, click Customize on the Tools menu, click the Toolbars tab, and then select the Circular Reference check box.
- On the Circular Reference toolbar, click the first cell in the Navigate Circular Reference box.
- Review the formula in the cell. If you cannot determine whether the cell is the cause of the circular reference, click the next cell in the Navigate Circular Reference box.
Note The status bar displays the word "Circular," followed by a reference to one of the cells contained in the circular reference. If the word "Circular" appears without a cell reference, the active worksheet does not contain the circular reference.
- Continue to review and correct the circular reference until the status bar no longer displays the word "Circular."
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When the Circular Reference toolbar appears, tracer arrows appear that point out the cells that depend on the formula.
- You can move between cells in a circular reference by double-clicking the tracer arrows.
Make a circular reference work by changing the number of times Microsoft Excel iterates formulas
- On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Calculation tab.
- Select the Iteration check box.
- To set the maximum number of times Microsoft Excel will recalculate, type the number of iterations in the Maximum iterations box. The higher the number of iterations, the more time Excel needs to calculate a worksheet.
- To set the maximum amount of change you will accept between calculation results, type the amount in the Maximum change box. The smaller the number, the more accurate the result and the more time Excel needs to calculate a worksheet.