Excel: Selecting Precedents Doesn't Select External References

 Last reviewed: November 4, 1994
Article ID: Q93560
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 1.x, 2.2, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0

SUMMARY

Microsoft Excel only selects cell precedents (cells referred to by the active cell) when they occur on the same worksheet as the dependent cell; external references are ignored.

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Excel you can select cell precedents by choosing Select Special from the Formula menu and selecting the Precedents option. This procedure selects all cells to which the formula in the current cell refers.

For example, if you have the formula =A1*B1+D1 in a cell and you select the precedents for that cell, Microsoft Excel selects cells A1, B1, and D1.

Any external references (that is, references to cells on different worksheets) are ignored because Microsoft Excel will not allow you to select cells on an inactive worksheet.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Excel User's Guide 1," version 4.0, pages 204-206 "Microsoft Excel User's Guide," version 3.0 for Windows, pages 172-174 "Microsoft Excel User's Guide," version 3.0 for the Macintosh, pages 165-167

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Additional reference words: 1.00 1.03 1.04 1.06 1.50 2.00 2.01 2.10 2.20
3.00 4.00 5.00

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Last reviewed: November 4, 1994
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