Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Viewing Formula Results.
When you are developing complex formulas, or when you are examining the formulas developed by others, it can often be beneficial to look at the results of a particular portion of a formula. For instance, consider the following formula:
=(C2+F7)*C3/F8
You may want to know the value of C3/F8. In order to find this out, you can do the following:
At this point, you have two options. If you press Enter or otherwise move to a different cell, Excel assumes you have edited the formula and makes the change. The second option is to press the Esc key, which tells Excel to not make any changes to the formula.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (12157) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Viewing Formula Results.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 2013 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access) with VBA programming, using it for writing macros, automating Office applications, and creating custom applications. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2013 today!
If you have a lot of text in your workbook, at some point you might want to split out sentences into individual cells. ...
Discover MoreIf you type information into a workbook, you may want to make sure that what you type is always stored in uppercase. ...
Discover MoreEntering data in a worksheet can be time consuming. One of the tools that Excel provides to make entry easier is ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2016-04-18 12:31:48
Neil
Thanks Allen, very helpful trick! Also thanks to those that recommended CTRL+Z.
2016-04-17 18:12:01
Jim Burtt
4. Press CTRL + ~ to view all formulas in a worksheet. Press again to revert.
2016-04-16 17:45:56
Peter buckley
In response to evaluating parts of a formula, I find using "Evaluate formula" a very easy way to identify and resolve complex formula problems. Best feature available.
2016-04-16 11:33:03
Don't forget about {CTRL} Z when wanting to further examine the formula. After pressing F9 you can press the ESC key to exit the formula. But if you still want to examine other parts of the formula press CTRL z instead. You can then move the curser to the next section of the formula.
2016-04-16 11:16:34
Rien
Great trick! I was completely unaware of this one. Thanks.
One additional remark:
apart from <ENTER> to confirm or <ESC> to leave unchanged, you could also use <CTRL-Z> to toggle between formula and its result. This really helps to evaluate part of the formula and continue editing without leaving the cell and returning into it.
2016-04-16 06:10:41
Barry
That's a nice trick. I've always gone to the Formulas tab and stepped through Evaluate Formula. Highlighting and pressing F9, though, is quite handy (so long as I remember which function key to use).
2016-04-16 05:02:10
Tim Kendal
Just a note for Mac Users (Excel for Mac 2011). As you probably know, the Windows F2 doesn't work on the Mac. Ctrl-U keyboard has the same effect as Windows F2.
But I was delighted to find this tip - using F9 on the Mac DOES work as described! Of course you have to press fn-F9, but that's well known.
I wonder why they took away F2. As far as I can see it doesn't do anything else!
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2022 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: 
Comments