Testing tools built into Spreadsheet Professional

Spreadsheet Professional will examine your spreadsheet for 25 common types of error.

Each cell that might contain an error is flagged in a report, together with the reasons why Spreadsheet Professional has been programmed to flag up the cell.

Below is a screenshot of the types of errors that it searches for.

Part of an error report for a small spreadsheet

Although it is never possible to guarantee that a spreadsheet is completely free from errors, Spreadsheet Professional will enable you to quickly eradicate many of the most common errors that occur.

Spreadsheet Professional also contains a full range of tools to automatically document your spreadsheet. This significantly enhances the value of the spreadsheets that you produce by enabling them to be understood and maintained by others. The product also enables you to test and document spreadsheets that you have inherited from other people, making them easier to understand and to use.

A description of each of the reports is given below.

The Summary Report

This report is a brief summary of the spreadsheet model, when it was produced, the sheets within it etc.

The Range Name Report

This report contains a list of the range names and external references used within the spreadsheet model and what they refer to.

The Maps report

This report contains a map of the spreadsheet, showing where all the inputs, unique formulas etc occur. It is useful to identify inputs and potential anomalies within the spreadsheet.

Key to codes:
L = Label
N = Numeric input
F = Unique formula
< = Formula copied from left
^ = Formula copied from above
+ = Formula copied from both left and above

Translation of Calculations report

Possibly the most useful report. This report translates each of the unique calculations into English so that it is easy to understand.

Blank input sheets and current input values report

The blank input sheet report identifies each input within a spreadsheet and prepares a blank input sheet that can be used to collect the data.The current input values report details the value of each input on the spreadsheet.

The test reports

These reports detail potential errors that may have occurred during the building of the spreadsheet. (as shown at the top of the page)

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