Show Excel Formula Instead of Value

Understanding Excel Formulas

When working with Excel, it’s often useful to display the formulas used in calculations rather than the calculated values themselves. This can be particularly helpful for auditing, troubleshooting, and understanding complex spreadsheets. By default, Excel displays the results of formulas, not the formulas themselves. However, there is a simple way to show the formulas instead of the values.

Displaying Formulas in Excel

To display formulas in Excel instead of their calculated values, you can use a keyboard shortcut or change a setting in the Excel options. Here are the steps for both methods:

• Method 1: Using a Keyboard Shortcut

  • Press Ctrl + ` (grave accent) to toggle between displaying formulas and their calculated values. This is the quickest way to switch between the two views.

• Method 2: Through Excel Options

  • Navigate to the Formulas tab in the ribbon.
  • Click on Formula Auditing and then select Show Formulas from the drop-down menu.

Benefits of Displaying Formulas

Displaying formulas instead of values offers several benefits, especially when you’re dealing with complex spreadsheets or trying to understand how a formula works:

• Transparency: Seeing the actual formulas helps in understanding the logic and calculations behind the numbers.
• Troubleshooting: It becomes easier to identify and fix errors, as you can directly see the formula that might be causing the issue.
• Learning: For those learning Excel or trying to understand someone else’s spreadsheet, displaying formulas can be very educational.

Working with Formulas

When you decide to show formulas, every cell that contains a formula will display the formula itself, rather than the result. This can make the spreadsheet look a bit cluttered, especially if you have a lot of formulas. However, it’s a powerful tool for analysis and education.

💡 Note: Remember that displaying formulas does not change the functionality of your spreadsheet. It's merely a view setting that helps you see the underlying calculations.

Using Formula Auditing Tools

In addition to displaying formulas, Excel offers other formula auditing tools that can be very useful:

Tool	Description
Trace Precedents	Shows which cells are used in the formula of the selected cell.
Trace Dependents	Highlights cells that depend on the value of the selected cell.
Remove Arrows	Removes the arrows used by the Trace Precedents and Trace Dependents tools.

Best Practices

When working with formulas and deciding whether to display them, keep the following best practices in mind:

• Use Meaningful Cell References: Instead of hardcoding values into formulas, use cell references that are easy to understand.
• Keep Formulas Simple: Complex formulas can be difficult to understand. Break them down into simpler components when possible.
• Document Your Formulas: Especially in shared spreadsheets, consider adding comments or notes to explain complex formulas.

In summary, displaying formulas in Excel can be a powerful tool for understanding, troubleshooting, and educating. By using the methods outlined above and following best practices for formula management, you can make the most out of your Excel spreadsheets.