Excel Calculation Direction Question

**paulabrozek** · 08-26-2009, 11:44 AM

My understanding of Excel is that the calculations are performed in Column A first and then down through the rows in Column A. After all the calculations are finished in A, the calculation moves over to Column B and down the rows in B. Is this true?

I know that Excel is a little more complicated than that especially when it creates a queue for calculations, etc. However, assuming there's no calculation list/queue, would the above be correct?

Thanks,

Paula

**Special-K** · 08-26-2009, 11:47 AM

http://www.decisionmodels.com/calcsecretsc.htm

**romperstomper** · 08-26-2009, 11:49 AM

See this page for just about everything to do with the calcualtion process.
I'm intrigued as to why you need to know though?

**paulabrozek** · 08-26-2009, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by Special-K

http://www.decisionmodels.com/calcsecretsc.htm

Thanks!

P

**paulabrozek** · 08-26-2009, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by romperstomper

See this page for just about everything to do with the calcualtion process.
I'm intrigued as to why you need to know though?

I build economic models in excel for a living. Part of that job is to teach others to build efficient spreadsheets. I'm trying to show people how excel actually performs its calculations, such that people can set up their spreadsheets in such a way that minimizes the file size, performs calculations efficently, reduces links, etc.

All that being said, I wasn't exactly sure how to explain how excel performs its calculations. The top down methodology that I described in my original post was more aimed at the "dependancies" that you replied with.

Thanks for that.

Paula