Formula Explorer

Formula Explorer brings step-by-step formula breakdowns, interactive precedent tracing and formatting utilities to Google Sheets.

Designed for financial analysts, accountants, modelers, and power users, Formula Explorer brings step-by-step formula debugging, precedent tracing, and keyboard-driven formatting to your spreadsheets. Effortlessly analyze complex formulas, navigate every input cell, and apply formatting quickly using customizable keyboard shortcuts. Experience powerful Excel-style workflows tailored specifically for Google Sheets: ➤ Calculation Steps – Break Down Any Formula With Full Transparency Shortcut: Ctrl + Q • See step-by-step how any formula is calculated, including intermediate values. • Logical functions like IF, IFS, and CHOOSE highlight active branches so you know exactly what path is taken. • Lookup and reference functions like VLOOKUP, OFFSET, INDEX, and INDIRECT display their resolved target locations. • Support for the LET function – view variable assignments and evaluate reusable logic clearly and sequentially. • Use the Left and Right arrow keys to expand or collapse nested function layers. • Use the Up and Down arrow keys to jump to referenced cells. • Click directly inside the formula to get insights into specific sub-expressions. • Enable Sandbox Sheet Evaluation under Settings → Formula Evaluation to ensure fast and smooth breakdowns even in very large or slow-loading sheets. • Seamlessly integrated with Google Sheets' design — no jarring overlays or context switches. • Familiar keyboard-driven experience for Excel users — no mouse needed. It’s the only tool that offers full, step-by-step breakdowns of formula logic directly inside your spreadsheet. Formula Explorer also helps you debug complex formulas by making it easy to spot logic errors, incorrect references, or unexpected behavior — all without manual inspection. ➤ Trace Precedents – See All Formula Inputs In One Place Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + Q • View all cells referenced by your formula in a single, organised window. • Navigate through precedent cells quickly using just the Up and Down arrow keys. • Edit your spreadsheet freely — no need to close the Trace Precedents window. • Explore deeper layers by expanding precedents of precedents using the Right and Left arrow keys • Click inside the formula to navigate instantly to specific range. • Close the window instantly with the "Esc" key — no mouse required. • Designed with a workflow similar to powerful Excel add-ons. ➤ Utilities Tool – Apply, Cycle, and Customise Formatting Enhance your formatting workflow with the Utilities tool — a flexible solution to apply and cycle through your most-used formatting styles efficiently using custom keyboard shortcuts. Tired of manually applying number formats, colors, and fills again and again? With Utilities, you can define your own formatting actions and trigger them instantly. • Choose from utilities like Number Format, Font Color, and Fill Color. • Add multiple utilities of the same type with different settings (e.g. blue font vs. green font). • Assign keyboard shortcuts to individual utilities — or group several under the same shortcut to cycle through them. • Use custom Name Suffixes to label each utility and keep them organized. • Perfect for analysts who use consistent formatting to indicate formulas, hardcodes, or links. Whether you're working with financial models or team templates, Utilities helps you keep your formatting fast, accurate, and consistent — no menu digging required. Our Current Tools, Customizable Shortcuts, and Defaults: • Calculation Steps – Step-by-step formula breakdown – Ctrl + Q. • Trace Precedents – See all referenced cells and navigate dependencies – Ctrl + Shift + Q. • Number Format Cycle – Quickly switch between general number formats – Ctrl + Shift + 1. • Percent Format Cycle – Toggle percent styles with one shortcut – Ctrl + Shift + 2. • Date Format Cycle – Cycle through common date formats – Ctrl + Shift + 3. • USD Currency Format Cycle – Apply and switch between USD currency formats – Ctrl + Shift + 4. • EUR & GBP Currency Format Cycle – Toggle between Euro and Pound formats – Ctrl + Shift + 5. • Logical Value Format Cycle – Format TRUE/FALSE values in your preferred style – Ctrl + Shift + 6. • Font Color Format Cycle – Cycle between custom font colors – Ctrl + ‘. • Fill Color Format Cycle – Quickly apply or toggle between fill color presets – Ctrl + Shift + K. Customize all shortcuts by clicking the Formula Explorer icon in the top-right corner of Google Sheets. After installation, log in with your Google Account to activate your free license. Formula Explorer only accesses your spreadsheet while you're actively analyzing formulas or precedents. We never access, store, or share your sheet data.For more details, see our Security Policy at https://www.cognisheets.com/legal/security and Privacy Policy at https://cognisheets.com/legal/privacy.html. Free to use. Actively developed and currently in BETA. Boost your spreadsheet productivity — with confidence and clarity — using Formula Explorer.