| When Microsoft Excel is used to construct large and | | | | jump to the other precedent cells and finally back to |
| complex spreadsheets containing multiple worksheets, | | | | the original formula you were originally looking at. |
| it can become extremely difficult for someone to | | | | Navigating to these precedents and then back again |
| navigate, let alone track or trace numbers through the | | | | using Microsoft Excel’s existing functionality is time |
| spreadsheet with all of the values and formulas | | | | consuming to say the least as many have felt the |
| contained within it. This is because in a large | | | | frustration of editing, checking, de-bugging, enhancing or |
| spreadsheet like a financial model, there can often be | | | | auditing a formula that you, or worse, someone else |
| hundreds if not thousands of different formula down | | | | has created in their spreadsheet when multiple |
| and across each page including calculations which may | | | | precedents and sheets are involved. |
| contain several links to other sheets within the | | | | This common complaint with Microsoft Excel is heard |
| workbook. The difficulty experienced with navigating | | | | time and time again by engineers, accountants, |
| through the formulas of large and complex | | | | management consultants, bankers and finance |
| spreadsheets exists even when you were the one | | | | professionals who work with Excel spreadsheets on a |
| who designed and built the spreadsheet. | | | | daily basis. Many spreadsheet users including financial |
| Microsoft Excel does come with some basic | | | | modellers (who seem to be leading the charge) are |
| functionality to help users navigate through a | | | | turning towards Excel Add-ins and software tools that |
| spreadsheets formulas. Some common methods are: | | | | plug into Microsoft Excel to help them navigate through |
| - Utilising the ‘Go To’ window [ctrl + G] and | | | | formulas and complex spreadsheets more easily. |
| typing in cell addresses | | | | Probably the most popular and widely used Excel |
| - Entering edit mode [F2], thus outlining same sheet | | | | add-in for this purpose is ‘Formula Navigator’. |
| precedents in different colors | | | | An add-in created by the company ‘Spreadsheet |
| - Using formula auditing to draw arrows to precedent | | | | Guys’. They have developed a unique add-in |
| or dependent cells and double clicking to move back | | | | utilising a re-sizeable floating window and hyperlink |
| and forth between same sheet references and the | | | | system to help Excel users understand a formula and |
| ‘Go To’ window to move back and forth | | | | efficiently jump to all of its precedent and dependent |
| between off-sheet references. | | | | cells and ranges no matter whether they are on a |
| This functionality and all of the inefficiency of double | | | | different worksheet or a different open workbook. An |
| mouse clicks falls well short of the mark for many | | | | additional history window added as part of the |
| users who have large complex spreadsheets, such as | | | | products 2nd release also allows the user to click back |
| a financial model with formulas that link to a number of | | | | to any cell previously looked at (traced) using the tool, |
| cells or cells much further down/across the sheet or to | | | | during the current open session. |
| cells on a variety of other worksheets, or even | | | | Whether the spreadsheet was designed by you or |
| workbooks. The bottom line is that when it comes to | | | | someone else, ‘Formula Navigator’ definitely fills |
| formula navigation the existing functionality of Microsoft | | | | a need and has already cured the frustration of many |
| Excel is difficult to use, inefficient and lacking in | | | | Excel spreadsheet users, helping them to more quickly |
| functionality. | | | | understand the logic in a formula and links between |
| The main problem is that when trying to check or | | | | sheets, thus helping to reduce spreadsheet errors, |
| understand a formula you must first take a look at the | | | | facilitate debugging and assist with spreadsheet |
| precedents cells or ranges, but then be able to quickly | | | | auditing. |