How To Check For And Reduce Errors In Microsoft Excel
28852
Computers > Software
Jun 19, 2007
microsofttraining
How To Check For And Reduce Errors In Microsoft Excel
Important decisions can be based on data output from a spreadsheet. For example, an accounting spreadsheet not only describes a company's financial history but also forecasts its future. A tiny error that initially appears insignificant can easily grow to give a totally incorrect financial picture. For this reason just one tiny error in one cell can spell disaster. There are ways to detect and correct most errors but no foolproof system exists. The prudent user should stay alert to this danger and undertake some excel software training to be able to use all available tools to detect them. Six ways to check for errors and minimise the chance of them being generated are given below. The validation tool The Validation option in the Data menu makes it possible to perform input range checks without having to write sophisticated software code. You have options to select the data type (e.g. whole number, date) to be validated and the upper and lower values for the input data. Excel will then check that the data falls within these ranges. The validation rules you have developed can also be stored and used in other sheets or workbooks later on. Reviewing formulas The edit menu can be used to look for errors in your formulas. It will not check that they are calculating what was intended but can at least check that there are no trivial syntactic errors, a formula referencing a text entry for example. If you do receive any error messages you can then use the audit tools described below to track down the error's source. The auditing toolbar The auditing toolbar will help you track down the source of any errors. When you find an error message if you activate the cell which contains the message and click on the trace error symbol on the toolbar Excel will draw arrows to highlight all the cells which are connected to that cell. Red arrows indicate the cells that are propagating the error, blue arrows indicate correct input values. The source of the error is therefore the cell that has a blue arrow leading in but a red arrow pointing out. Adding explanatory comments Adding explanatory comments to cells and using cell names can minimise errors and improve readability. The comments can be set to appear all the time or to appear just as an indicator which will expand to the whole comment when the cursor passes over it. Avoiding the rounding off option Although using the rounding off option doesn't alter the data contained within the spreadsheet it does affect how numbers are displayed. Confusion can arise when some numbers are rounded off whilst others are not or when the rounding off is displayed in different ways. When building a spreadsheet model it is best to turn the rounding option off and employ a consistent number of decimal places. Failing to maintain the decimal consistency can produce irritating and confusing results and may mask errors. Work more efficiently Most people use excel inefficiently by creating too many workbooks, preparing complicated reports that contain too many links between workbooks and using formulas haphazardly. This means that many hours need to be spent updating and auditing these spreadsheets. By completing some basic excel training ways to work more efficiently can be identified, thereby reducing the chance of errors being introduced and simplifying the process of detecting them if they are.
Author is a trainer with a Microsoft Office training company, the UK industry leader in its sector. For more information on Excel training, visit http://www.MicrosoftTraining.net.
send email to microsofttraining
Write a Review
Add to My Favorite
Refer it to Friend
Report Article
Other links owned by this user
Studies have shown that a clearly defined business plan can be the difference between success and failure for all businesses, regardless of size or history. Creating and managing a plan can be a difficult endeavor even for experienced managers.
Category:
Microsoft Excel is one of the most versatile programs within the Microsoft Office suite. If you are self taught and have not had any basic excel training you may not be aware of the many shortcuts available within the application.
Category:
Just take a moment if you will, to imagine being a contestant on a popular quiz show. I am sure you would feel quite confident if the first question to appear on your screen asked you to explain what is Microsoft Excel?.
Category:
Companies across the UK are struggling to fill positions because there simply aren't enough properly skilled candidates available. A skills gap exists in almost every industry, be it IT, engineering, accounting or specialized secretarial roles. This gap m
Category:
When you are looking for work, you need a hook that will make your resume stand out from the competition. Certification as a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) not only provides proof of proficiency with Microsoft Office products, it shows a potential empl
Category:
Studies have shown that companies that implement a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification program see wide ranging benefits. Employees have the training to improve their productivity and are made to feel valuable with a company-financed professio
Category:
Looking after domestic finances can cause much anxiety. Often you are anxious because you find it difficult to keep track of your finances and so do not feel you are in control. Using Microsoft Excel to record, monitor and control your domestic finances c
Category:
Even people who are experts at using Microsoft Excel don't often venture into the area of macros. Those that do are often satisfied with simple recorded macros and never look at the code that makes them work.
Category:
Most Microsoft Word users spend over an hour a week completing tasks that could be accomplished virtually instantly by applying tools which are built into Word. This is either because they do not know that these tools exist or they have had no training in
Category:
With a new baby on the way life can feel very full. From birth announcements and a photo-based Website about your new arrival to growth charts and christening invitations, Microsoft Office can help make everything run smoothly.
Category:
We've all seen them... blinking, flashing, clip-art ridden PowerPoint presentations that look as if they belong on the marquis of a club several streets off the main strip in Vegas. On the other hand, there are PowerPoint presentations so plain that it wo
Category:
It seems to me that project management is all about expertly juggling lots of different balls whilst taking care to catch them all at the right time. Consequently, it appears logical that great benefits will come from using a tool that can aid this juggli
Category:
Editing a document can be a time consuming, laborious task. Microsoft Word has a large array of editing features which can speed up and simplify this process. A few examples of these, with tips on how to use them, are given below.
Category:
Microsoft Access is a Database Management System (DBMS) designed for the Windows environment, which has rapidly become the database of choice for Windows based database development. Access provides powerful and easy to use design tools which make it decep
Category:
Preparing for a wedding can be a very stressful time, with a mountainous list of preparations to deal with and numerous decisions to make. There are many ways in which Microsoft Office can make things run easily and smoothly as the big day approaches.
Category:
Other links at Computers > Software
Computer software training is essential in this day and age for anyone who is using a computer for more than just basic functionality such as word processing. In fact, it is recommended even for such tasks, as often times there are new methods that can be
Category:
Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet creation and analysis tool that gives you the tools you need to manage critical business data and the power to get the most out of your information. Excel provides you with the tools to easily access, process, analyse, sha
Category:
Studies have shown that companies that implement a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification program see wide ranging benefits. Employees have the training to improve their productivity and are made to feel valuable with a company-financed professio
Category:
PsP software downloads is a very good way to get new software for your psp hand held. You can get psp movies from many different websites. Most of these sites include psp music downloads, psp movie downloads and psp software downloads and of course PsP
Category:
Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics
Articles: 68222
Categories: 501
Yahoo Entertainment
