Auditing

Auditing enables the graphic display of cell dependencies within Spreadsheet Cell Execution, as well as displaying cells that have dependency errors (#ERR). A dependency exists when the expression in a cell references another cell or range of cells.

There are two parts to each dependency: a precedent and a dependent. The precedent refers to the source of the data, i.e. the cell or range of cells that a cell's expression refers to; the dependent is the destination of the data, i.e. a cell that contains an expression that refers to other cells.

Cell References in an expression constitutes exactly one dependency, with one precedent and one dependent. Each dependency is displayed as a color-coded arrow that points from the precedent to the dependent. A small circle at the end of the arrow indicates the precedent cell. The arrows for errors appear over the arrows for non-errors, and the arrows of precedents appear over the arrows of dependents.

Dependencies are drawn in the following order:

1. Normal dependents = green arrow
2. Normal precedents = blue arrow
3. Dependents in error = yellow arrow
4. Precedents in error = red arrow
   

Dependencies are drawn differently for the following:

• Multiple Cell Precedents:
  When multiple cells refer to a precedent, the range of cells is outlined and the arrow originates from a dot.

  

• Empty Cells:
  If a cell's expression refers to an empty cell, this relationship is displayed when the dependent cell is selected but is not displayed when the empty precedent cell is selected. A red question mark is displayed in the dependent cell, regardless of which cell is selected.
  

  The dependent cell is selected.

• Dead-end Cells: If a cell has no precedent references, the cell is drawn with a dashed magenta border. The magenta border is displayed for all dead-end cells in the spreadsheet, regardless of the selected cell(s).
  
  

  Cells B9 and B10 have no dependent references, therefore the cells are drawn with a magenta border, regardless of which cell is highlighted.