Search | Constant formula cells

This command selects all constant formula cells within the current selection.  A constant formula does not reference any other cells; instead, for example, it reads “=10+40”.  This type of structure might be used when you want to record the derivation of a particular input value.

Why would you want to use it?

Checking a model involves verifying that the input assumptions are correct, and that the formulas do what is intended.  Both Excel and OAK can help with this.

The risk with constant formula cells is that what are really inputs are listed as formulas, and so may escape checking.  The Search | Constant Formula Cells command in OAK provides a method by which constant formula cells may be found and checked.

How to use it

Select a range and choose the command from the menu; the command will either select those formula cells within the current selection that do not reference any other cells or return a “No constant formula cells found in selection” message.

What you could do if you didn't have OAK

There is no automatic way to detect constant formula cells inside formulas using Excel alone without OAK.

The closest option is to use Excel’s Edit | Go To | Special | Formulas command.  It allows the user the option to search for formulas.  However, it will select all the formulas, not just the ones that are constant formula cells.  Picking out the constant formula cells is something that would have to be done by inspecting each selected formula individually (using the Tab key to move from one cell in the selection to the next).