confusing formulas

[robmormile]

Hi all

Is there a way to generate a flowchart from the data in the formula tab? I have some complex/confusing formulas which function well but I need to edit/add formulas to them. I easily get lost in the algorithm. If I could somehow visually see the flow of the formula It would make it much easier to understand.

 

[Michael M]

I don't know about Excel on the Mac but you can trace dependents / precedents by using the Formula tab>>formula auditing>>trace precedents OR trace dependents.
OR
on the same menu >> Evaluate formula will let you step through the formula 1 step at a time and see the result as you go.

 

[Alex Blakenburg]

I often use Alt+Enter in formulas to break the formula up into separate lines, and lately also adding spaces to indent lines.
It doesn't impact the formula but makes it easier to read and is similar to what you do when you write code.

The below is a recent example. Ignore the actual formula, it was just modifying someone else's in another thread.

=IFERROR(
   IF(K23="","",
      IF(V22>180,28,
         RIGHT(SUBSTITUTE(TRIM(LEFT(SUBSTITUTE($V$11,"Morning",REPT(" ",255),1),255))," ",REPT(" ",255)),99)+0)),
"")