{"id":462720,"date":"2022-06-14T18:00:27","date_gmt":"2022-06-14T15:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/how-to-evaluate-formulas-step-by-step-in-microsoft-excel\/"},"modified":"2022-06-14T18:00:27","modified_gmt":"2022-06-14T15:00:27","slug":"how-to-evaluate-formulas-step-by-step-in-microsoft-excel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-evaluate-formulas-step-by-step-in-microsoft-excel\/","title":{"rendered":"#How to Evaluate Formulas Step-by-Step in Microsoft Excel"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aee7356da15d\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aee7356da15d\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-evaluate-formulas-step-by-step-in-microsoft-excel\/#%E2%80%9CHow_to_Evaluate_Formulas_Step-by-Step_in_Microsoft_Excel%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;How to Evaluate Formulas Step-by-Step in Microsoft Excel&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-evaluate-formulas-step-by-step-in-microsoft-excel\/#Use_the_Evaluate_Formula_Tool_in_Excel\" >Use the Evaluate Formula Tool in Excel<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CHow_to_Evaluate_Formulas_Step-by-Step_in_Microsoft_Excel%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;How to Evaluate Formulas Step-by-Step in Microsoft Excel&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage alignnone size-full wp-image-757715\" data-pagespeed-no-defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/microsoft_excel_hero_1200x675.jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Microsoft Excel logo on a green background\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re collaborating on a spreadsheet, you may want to break down a formula someone entered. While many times this easy, there are others where the formula is more complicated. Excel provides a tool to evaluate formulas step-by-step.<\/p>\n<p>For nested or lengthy formulas, you can see how they work one step at a time from the inside out. This not only helps you to understand the formula and its arguments but can also assist you in troubleshooting formula errors.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"admonishment_note\"><p><strong>Note:<\/strong> As of May 2022, the feature is available on Windows with Excel for Microsoft 365, Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2010, and Excel 2007.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use_the_Evaluate_Formula_Tool_in_Excel\"><\/span>Use the Evaluate Formula Tool in Excel<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Open your Excel sheet and select the cell containing the formula you want to evaluate. Go to the Formulas tab and choose \u201cEvaluate Formula\u201d in the Formula Auditing section of the ribbon.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-807483\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/FormulasEvaluate-ExcelEvaluateFormulas.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Evaluate Formula on the Formulas tab\" width=\"650\" height=\"115\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll see your formula placed in the center box. Click \u201cEvaluate\u201d to begin.\u00a0The tool evaluates the formula from the inside out, so you\u2019ll first notice it explaining the underlined portion.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s walk through our nested formula example: <code>=IF(SUM(A1:A5)&gt;20,AVERAGE(A1:A5),\"No\")<\/code>. This formula says, if the sum of cells A1 through A5 is greater than 20, average the cells in A1 through A5, otherwise, display \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-807484\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/StartEvaluate-ExcelEvaluateFormulas.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Evaluate underlined portion\" width=\"650\" height=\"290\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>When you click \u201cEvaluate,\u201d the underlined part of the formula shows the result. In our formula, it sums the cells A1 through A5 and sees if the result is greater than 20.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-807485\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/EvaluateSumGreaterThan-ExcelEvaluateFormulas.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Evaluate next underlined portion\" width=\"650\" height=\"290\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Then when you click \u201cEvaluate\u201d again, the next underlined portion is evaluated and shows the result. For us, the result is False because the sum is not greater than 20.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-807486\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/EvaluateNotGreaterThan-ExcelEvaluateFormulas.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Underlined portion evaluated and result is False\" width=\"650\" height=\"290\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>When you reach the end, you\u2019ll see the final result that displays in your cell. For our formula this is \u201cNo\u201d because the IF function\u2019s formula displays the if-not-then result.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-807487\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/EvaluateNotGreaterThanNo-ExcelEvaluateFormulas.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Final evaluation result is the formula result\" width=\"650\" height=\"290\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>You can then select \u201cRestart\u201d to see the step-by-step evaluation again or \u201cClose\u201d to exit the tool.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s look at another example where you can use the Step In and Step Out features of the tool. For this we\u2019ll use a basic IF function formula rather than a nested formula: <code>=IF(A1=5,\"Yes\",\"No\")<\/code>. This says, if the value in cell A1 equals 5, display \u201cYes,\u201d otherwise, display \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Here we see our formula with the underlined portion and the Step In button available.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-807488\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/EvaluateStepIn-ExcelEvaluateFormulas.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Evaluate with Step In available\" width=\"650\" height=\"290\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Click that button to display the constant for the formula. It will <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ear in its own box. You can see here it\u2019s 1 because that\u2019s the value in cell A1.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-807489\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/EvaluateStepOut-ExcelEvaluateFormulas.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Step In value displays\" width=\"650\" height=\"290\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>You can then click \u201cStep Out\u201d to close that box and continue with \u201cEvaluate\u201d to work through the formula. The next step evaluates if 1 is equal to 5, per our formula.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-807491 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/EvaluateEqualTo-ExcelEvaluateFormulas.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Evaluate equal to result\" width=\"650\" height=\"290\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Click \u201cEvaluate\u201d to see that the result is False, 1 is not equal to 5.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-807490 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/EvaluateNotEqualTo-ExcelEvaluateFormulas.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Equal to result is false\" width=\"650\" height=\"290\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Therefore, the formula\u2019s result is \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-807492\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/EvaluateNotEqualToNo-ExcelEvaluateFormulas.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Final evaluation result is the formula result\" width=\"650\" height=\"290\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>When you see a formula that you\u2019re trying to understand, the Evaluate Formula feature in Excel can help. For more, look at these basic Excel functions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. 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While many times this easy, there are others where the formula is more complicated. Excel provides a tool to evaluate formulas step-by-step. For nested or lengthy formulas, you can see how&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":462721,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/microsoft_excel_hero_1200x675.jpg?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-462720","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/462720","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=462720"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/462720\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/462721"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=462720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=462720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=462720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}