Formula & Cell Inspection

Spreadsheets often hide more logic than the visible numbers suggest. Formulas may point to the wrong row, references can shift after copying, hard-coded values can replace expected formulas, and hidden sheets, comments, hyperlinks, or named ranges may affect how a workbook behaves. Inspection tools are useful when inheriting somebody else’s file or checking a model before it is reused.

Start with the cells that drive important totals and work backward through their references. Look for inconsistent formulas within a column, links to external workbooks, unusual absolute references, and cells whose displayed value looks normal but whose formula differs from neighboring rows. If you are auditing a financial or operational model, document unusual formulas rather than “fixing” them until you know why they were written that way.

Practical tips

• Compare formulas across neighboring rows to spot one-off changes.
• Check for external links before sending a workbook to another person.
• Review hidden rows, columns, and sheets when totals do not reconcile.
• Distinguish intentional constants from formulas that were accidentally overwritten.
• Make a copy before changing references in a workbook with complex dependencies.