How to Show Formulas in Excel

Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool for data analysis and organization. While the software is known for its ability to perform complex calculations, at times, it can be challenging to view the underlying formulas responsible for producing these results. Displaying formulas in Excel is an essential function that allows users to better understand their data and prevent errors in formulas. In this blog post, we will explore the steps required to show formulas in Excel and make the most out of the software’s capabilities.

Step 1: Open the Worksheet with Formulas

The first step is to open the Excel worksheet that contains the formula. This will allow you to view the formula that is currently being used to produce the value displayed in the cell.

Step 2: Select the Cells Containing the Formula

After opening the worksheet, you need to select the cells containing the formula you want to display. You can either select a single cell or a range of cells depending on your requirements. You can do this using your mouse or by using the Ctrl key + Click to select multiple cells.

Step 3: Use the Shortcut to Show Formulas in Excel

Once you have selected the cells with formulas, press the “Ctrl + ` ” keys on your keyboard to show the formulas. This keyboard shortcut allows you to view the formula if you want to see what calculation is being performed to produce that cell’s value.

Step 4: Using the Formula Auditing Tab

If you prefer to use the Ribbon to display formulas, you can use the Formula Auditing tab. To do this, go to the “Formulas” tab and then click on the “Formula Auditing” button. From here, click on “Show Formulas” to display formulas in all cells.

Step 5: Return to Normal View

After you have viewed the formulas, you might want to return to the normal view of the worksheet. To do this, press the “Ctrl + ` ” keys again on your keyboard, or click on the “Show Formulas” button that we used in step 4.

Closing Thoughts:

Showing formulas in Excel is a useful feature for data analysts and anyone who works with data on a regular basis. By following these simple steps, you can easily display formulas in your spreadsheet and understand how the values are being calculated. We hope you found this blog post helpful in facilitating your data analysis process and mastering Excel’s powerful capabilities.

Why it is important to show formulas in Excel?

Excel is one of the most versatile tools you can use in data analysis. It helps you to organize, evaluate, and model large sets of data in an effective way. However, it is always important to check if your formulas are correct. Displaying formulas in Excel can help you save time by quickly identifying issues with the calculations before they turn into bigger problems. Showcase formulas also helps you to share your workbooks with others in a constructive and transparent manner.

How to Print Formulas in Excel?

If you want to print formulas in Excel, follow the steps below:

Step 1

Open your workbook and click the “File” tab in the top left corner of your screen.

Step 2

Click on the “Print” option.

Step 3

On the right-hand side, click on the “Print Options” dropdown.

Step 4

Select the “Print Formulas” option and click the Print button to print the formulas along with the cell values from the worksheet.

Formatting Tips

If you decide to show formulas in Excel, it’s important to keep your worksheet format clean to prevent errors. Some ways to do this are:

Avoid merging cells

Merged cells can cause problems when you are adding formulas to a worksheet. It’s best to avoid them altogether if you’re going to use formulas.

Use cell references instead of values

When you’re entering data, always use cell references rather than values. This ensures that your formulas always reference the correct cells. It also makes it easier to troubleshoot formulas if errors do occur.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, displaying formulas in Excel is an essential skill for anyone looking to perform data analysis efficiently. By following the steps above, you can easily show or print formulas and minimize errors in your calculations. Keeping your worksheet format clean and using cell references can help you to keep your spreadsheet organized and reduce the likelihood of errors.

FAQs:

Here are some common questions that people often ask about showing formulas in Excel:

1. What if I have a large spreadsheet, how can I quickly show all formulas?

You can use the “Select All” option by clicking the left triangle at the top left corner of the worksheet to select all cells. Then press “Ctrl + ` ” keys simultaneously to show all formulas.

2. Is there a way to hide formulas again after showing them?

Yes, you can press “Ctrl + ` ” keys again to hide the formulas or go to the “Formulas” tab and click on “Show Formulas” again to toggle off the formula view.

3. Can I copy and paste formulas with this “Show Formulas” technique?

Yes, when you show formulas, you can copy and paste them to another area of the worksheet like you would with cell values.

4. Can I use the “Show Formulas” feature on a Mac?

Yes, the “Show Formulas” feature is available on both Windows and Mac versions of excel and uses the same “Ctrl + ` ” keyboard shortcut.

5. Is there any way to print only the formulas in Excel?

Yes, when you go to the print settings, you can select “Print Formulas” to print the formulas only. This option is useful for sharing your work or displaying a report to someone who needs to verify the calculations.