Unable to activate Trace Precedents or Dependents in Excel 2003

[davebord]

I have an Excel 2003 file and Formula Auditing is activated on the
Menu bar. But on the Formula Auditing menu the Trace functions do not
"activate" or light "light up" when I I have my cursor on a cell with
a formula. Thus, no Trace lines appear. I activated Circular
Reference in menus as well and the same thing happens, i.e., the
Tracer lines will not activate on the menu (the buttons do not
activate).

I did not create this file, it was given to me by a coworker. All
auditing features work in my own Excel files.

Any ideas on how to activate the Tracer buttons? (The person who
provided the file does not know.)

Thank you.

 

[Gord Dibben]

Sounds like maybe the worksheet is protected.

Tools>Protection>Unprotect Sheet


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[davebord]

Sounds like maybe the worksheet is protected.

Tools>Protection>Unprotect Sheet

Gord Dibben  MS Excel MVP

Thanks for the reply. I checked the Protection status and it is
already Unprotected. However, I copied each Tab in the file into a
blank worksheet on my PC and the "new" copied file has no problems,
i.e., the Tracer functions work as normal. Very strange.

 

[Gord Dibben]

Strange indeed but glad to hear you're up and away.

Gord

 

[Mr. Man8760]

Strange indeed but glad to hear you're up and away.

Gord

Okay, a coworker searched and searched and found the correction. You
have to go to Tools and then Options. I never thought of reviewing
Options under Tools because Formula Auditing has its own selection
under Tools. Oh well, whoever created the file to begin with turned
it off in this section.

 

[Gord Dibben]

Tools>Options and then what?

I assume you mean Tools>Options>View>Objects>Hide All.

I never thought of that<g>


Gord