{"id":2467,"date":"2021-01-27T19:31:56","date_gmt":"2021-01-27T18:31:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/?p=2467"},"modified":"2024-03-22T18:53:39","modified_gmt":"2024-03-22T17:53:39","slug":"jump-to-a-cell-reference-within-an-excel-formula","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/blog\/jump-to-a-cell-reference-within-an-excel-formula\/","title":{"rendered":"Jump To A Cell Reference Within An Excel Formula"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ever encountered a situation when you are working on a spreadsheet<\/a> created by someone else<\/strong>? Not sure about the cells being referred to in the formula<\/strong><\/a>?<\/p>\n

When writing, editing, or auditing Excel formulas you will have to view and access the referenced cells within a formula<\/strong> argument.<\/p>\n

There is a cool tip where you can jump to the referenced cell or range within the formula<\/strong> and make your changes.<\/p>\n

Excel go to cell in formula is helpful if you want to check how the formula works<\/strong> or to make any changes to the formula.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Go To Functionality<\/span><\/h3>\n\n

Follow the step-by-step tutorial<\/strong> on Excel formula to go to a specific cell with an Excel worksheet to practice along:<\/p>\n

download excel workbook<\/strong> <\/i><\/span>Jump-to-a-Cell-Reference.xlsx<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

STEP 1:<\/strong><\/span> Double click<\/strong> inside your Excel formula<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/p>\n

STEP 2:<\/strong> <\/span>Select the formula argument<\/strong> that you want to edit with your mouse<\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/p>\n

STEP 3:<\/strong><\/span> Press F5<\/strong> which will bring up the Go To dialogue box and press OK<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/p>\n

STEP 4:<\/strong> <\/span>This will take you to the referenced cell\/range<\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/p>\n

STEP 5:<\/strong><\/span> You can select the new range<\/strong> with your mouse and also make any changes to the formula bar<\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/p>\n

STEP 6:<\/strong> <\/span>Press Enter<\/strong> and your formula is updated<\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/p>\n

This is how you can use the go to cell in Excel!<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

You can even use a simpler technique to Excel jump to cell in formula\u00a0using Trace Dependents and Trace Precedents in Excel.<\/p>\n

Let’s look at these two features in detail!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Trace Precedents<\/span><\/h3>\n

Precedent cells are the cells that are referred to by a formula.<\/p>\n

In the example below, cell F6 contains a formula that is getting value from another cell. You can use the Trace Precedents to take you to the cell from which you are getting the value.<\/p>\n

Let’s see it can be done!<\/p>\n

STEP 1:<\/strong> <\/span>Select the cell F6.<\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/a><\/p>\n

STEP 2:<\/strong> <\/span>Go to Formulas<\/strong> > Trace Precedents<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/a><\/p>\n

This will create arrows on your sheet that will indicate which cells affect the value of the currently selected cell<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/a><\/p>\n

To remove these arrows, Go to Formulas<\/strong> > Remove Arrows<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/a><\/p>\n

You can even use a keyboard shortcut<\/a> to highlight the precedent cells.<\/p>\n

STEP 1:<\/strong> <\/span>Select the cell F9.<\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/a><\/p>\n

STEP 2:<\/strong> <\/span>Press Ctrl + [<\/strong>. This will highlight all the cells mentioned in the formula.<\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/a><\/p>\n

You can press Tab<\/strong> to move between these cells.<\/em><\/p>\n

Another cool tip is that this feature also works when the formula contains a link to an external workbook<\/strong> and that workbook is closed<\/strong>. When you press Ctrl + [, it will open the closed workbook and take you to that specific cell.<\/p>\n

Let’s look at another example for this.<\/p>\n

STEP 1:<\/strong> <\/span>Select a cell that contains a formula linked to a different worksheet or an external workbook.<\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/a><\/p>\n

STEP 2:<\/strong> <\/span>Go to Formulas > Trace Precedents.<\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/a><\/p>\n

Since the dependent cells are placed in a different worksheet, it will be indicated with a black dash line and arrowhead pointed to a small picture.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/a><\/p>\n

STEP 3: <\/span>Double click on the dashed line to open the dialog box<\/strong> that lists the dependent cells.<\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/a><\/p>\n

STEP 4: <\/span><\/strong>Select the cell from the list and press OK<\/strong>. Excel will take you to the referred cell.<\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Trace Dependents<\/span><\/h3>\n

Dependent cells can be used to show the cells that are affected by the active cells<\/strong>. To see the cells that are dependent on the active cells, follow the steps below:<\/p>\n

STEP 1:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Select the cell you want to analyze.<\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/a><\/p>\n

STEP 2:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Go to Formulas<\/strong> > Trace Dependents<\/strong> or Press Ctrl +]<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/a><\/p>\n

This will highlight the dependent cell with blue arrows.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/a><\/p>\n

STEP 3:<\/strong> <\/span>Click on Trace Dependents again to show more cells that are related to the active cells.<\/p>\n

\"Jump<\/a><\/p>\n

Further Learning:<\/strong><\/p>\n