Checking “Formulas” for errors

When we type an error in a formula, Excel will point out this to us by an error icon next to the cell.
If we move the mouse over this icon, Excel will inform us what is wrong with the formula. In this case we have an incorrect data type in the formula.   Here I have a number multiplied with text.

When we click on this icon, a drop-down menu appears with different options

depending on the error.

Below are the default options:
“Help on this error”
“Ignore Error”
“Edit in formula bar”
“Error Checking Options”

When you click on the last option, “Error Checking Options”, “Excel Options” dialog box opens. Click the “Formulas” tab.
Here, there are the various rules for error checking.

When we click “Ignore Error” the error icon will disappear.
By clicking on the “Edit in formula bar” we can adjust the formula.

Click on the “Trace Error” in “Trace Dependents”. It shows the cells used in the formula by blue arrows:

To hide these arrows you correct the formula or click the “Remove Arrows” button.

Modify “Formulas”

We can modify the formulas in our cell at any time.
Double-click the cell.
This opens the formula in the cell and shows us the function plus the cell or range of cells that had been used.

Select the portion of the formula that you want to change and type or click a cell to modify.

For example you can change the range in a formula, by clicking and dragging the corners and / or edges of the blue box around the Range.

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