Using the Watch Window

Another way to troubleshoot logical errors in formulas is to use the Watch Window toolbar in Excel. You can use the Watch Window to inspect formula calculations and results in large worksheets. With the Watch Window, you don't need to continually scroll or go to different parts of your worksheet to see different results.

The Watch Window toolbar can be moved or docked like other toolbars in Excel. For example, you can move it and dock it at the bottom of the window. To undock the Watch Window toolbar, click on the top part of it and drag it up from the docking position.

The toolbar keeps track of the following properties of a cell: workbook, worksheet, name, cell reference, the value in the cell, and formula in the cell. You can only have one watch entry per cell.

You can change data on the worksheet and view the Watch Window for how the change is affecting other cells with formulas.

Use the following steps to add a Watch item:

1. Select the cells that you want to watch.
   To select all cells with formulas on your worksheet, navigate to: Home tab > Editing group > Find & Replace > Go To Special , and then click Formulas .
2. On the Formulas tab, in the Formula Auditing group, click the Watch Window button to display the Watch Window toolbar.
   
3. Click Add Watch .
4. Click Add on the Add Watch dialog box. Here, you can change the cell you want to add (if it is different from the one selected in step 1).
5. Move the Watch Window toolbar and dock it to the bottom, left, or right side of the Excel window. To change the width of a column, for example, the Book column, drag the boundary on the right side of the column heading.
6. To display the cell being referred to by an entry in the Watch Window, double-click the entry to select the cell. Note that cells that contain references to other workbooks are only displayed in the Watch Window when the referenced workbook is open.
7. To close the Watch Window toolbar, on the Formulas tab, in the Formula Auditing group, click the Watch Window button to toggle it off.

Removing cells from the Watch Window

1. If the Watch Window toolbar is not displayed, click the Watch Window button on the Formulas tab to display it. 
2. Click the entry you want to remove to select it. To select multiple entries, press Ctrl and then click the entry. 
3. Click Delete Watch .
4. To close the Watch Window toolbar, on the Formulas tab, in the Formula Auditing group, click the Watch Window button to toggle it off.