Troubleshoot tracing dependent, precedent, and error cells

All tracer arrows disappear if you change the formula the arrows point to, insert or delete columns or rows, or delete or move cells. To restore the tracer arrows after making any of these changes, you must use auditing commands on the worksheet again.

If Microsoft Excel beeps when you click Trace Dependents or Trace Precedents on the Formula Auditing toolbar, either Excel has traced all levels of the formula, or you are attempting to trace an item that cannot be traced. The following items on worksheets that can be referenced by formulas cannot be traced by using the auditing tools:

• References to text boxes, embedded charts, or pictures on worksheets
• PivotTable reports
• References to named constants
• Formulas located in another workbook that refer to the active cell if the other workbook is closed

• If more than one error path exists, Excel stops tracing at the branch point when you use Trace Error . To continue tracing the error, click Trace Error again.

• If the formula that displays the error contains a reference to another worksheet or workbook, double-click the arrow that displays the worksheet icon . In the Go to list, double-click the reference you want to locate. Then, click Trace Error again.

When you are tracing formula dependencies or precedents, Excel cannot go to a cell in a workbook that is not open. Open the workbook that contains the cell, and then try going to the cell again.