Keep an Eye on Things

I think we can all agree that it is a Best Practice to, as the old saying goes, to Keep an Eye on Things. This is as true in Excel as it is in any business setting.

Doing this can, of course, be challenging at times.  Keeping an eye on the values of certain cells that are not immediately visible on a worksheet can be, at very least, inconvenient. This is can be especially problematical if you are working with a spreadsheet that has grown overly bulky in size, as continual scrolling to remote areas on your spreadsheet or workbook can be time-consuming and tedious.

So, is there a built-in tool in Excel that can assist us in this regard? Yes, there is! Watch Window to the rescue!  This frequently overlooked powerhouse of a tool can help anyone from a novice to the most experienced Excel user. The convenient Watch Window can display the value of any cell or range of cells in a viewing pane that can be located on your screen wherever you wish. This mighty toolbar keeps track of the following assets of anything you wish to keep tabs on:

·       Workbook

·       Sheet

·       Name

·       Cell

·       Value

·       Formula

How do you set it up? Very simply:

1.     Select the Formulas tab on the ribbon

2.     Select Watch Window from the Formula Auditing section

3.     The Watch Window will then appear

4.     Click the Add Watch button to specify the cell(s) you wish to monitor

It is that remarkably easy!  Watching what is happening on your critical areas of your data could not be simpler!

The next time you feel the need to “Keep an Eye on Things”, give Watch Window a try. I think you will like it!