Debugging worksheet find inheritance parent of cell in Excel

For example, I have inherited a complex WorkBook. I want to understand how value has been arrived at for a particular cell with formula - essentially I want to understand the cells that influence the value of the cell of interest.

In the example below, I want to the identify the precedent cells that determine the value of cell of interest, B9.

excel debugging worksheet find inheritance parent of cell

To do it in Excel, here is the answer:

a) Select the cell of interest ("B9" in this case). Click on "Trace Precedents" under "Formulas".

excel debugging worksheet find inheritance parent of cell

b) All the cells that influence the cell of interest are connected by arrows. This can help analyze how value is determined for the cell of interest.

excel debugging worksheet find inheritance parent of cell

c) To remove the arrows, Click on "Remove Arrows" under "Formulas". Click on "Remove Precedent Arrows".

excel debugging worksheet find inheritance parent of cell

d) All the "Precedent Arrows" would be removed as shown below.

excel debugging worksheet find inheritance parent of cell

 

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