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Sign up for other newsletters | Unsubscribe | Update your profile Step Through Formulas When you're writing complex formulas, a slight difference in brackets, for example, can entirely change the result of the calculation of a formula. Microsoft Office Excel adheres to the standard order of precedence for calculations, with percentages, exponents, multiplication, and division performed in that order before finally calculating addition and subtraction. For example, 7+5*3 = 22, because the 5*3 is calculated first. (7+5)*3 = 36, because the parentheses force the addition to be completed first. If you're unsure how Excel is evaluating a formula: 1. Click the cell, click the Formulas ribbon, and then click Evaluate Formula in the Formula Auditing section. 2. Click the Evaluate button to watch as each part of the formula is successively calculated, ensuring that each step of the calculation is valid. 2003 to 2007 Tri-Pane Review In Microsoft Office Word 2003, you can use the Compare Side-by-Side command to display two documents next to each other so that you can compare them. However, this is only a view and doesn't indicate actual changes to the document. The Compare and Merge command shows document changes but automatically merges the two together, regardless of whether or not you're ready. In Microsoft Office Word 2007, a side-by-side view is still available if you want it, but the Compare feature now offers a tri-pane review: the original document in one pane, the revised document in another pane, and a combined version of the document with changes marked in a third pane. The tri-pane view shows document changes even if the other person forgot to turn on the Track Changes feature. If you want to keep the combined document, you can simply save it as a separate file. To use tri-pane review: 1. Click the Review tab, and then click Compare in the Compare section. 2. Click Compare, and then select the original and revised documents that you want to view. • Tips and Tricks Web site • Microsoft Office Online • Help Privacy note: Microsoft respects your privacy and that of your friends. Please do not use the Tell a Friend button to send mail to more than 10 people. Microsoft cannot collect any data about the people you send mail to unless they sign up for Tips and Tricks Special Delivery. To cancel your subscription to this newsletter, reply to this message with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line. You can also unsubscribe at the Microsoft.com Profile Center. You can manage all your Microsoft.com communication preferences at this site. Legal information Microsoft Corporation One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052 Sign up for other newsletters | Unsubscribe | Update your profile © 2009 Microsoft Corporation Terms of Use | Trademarks | Privacy Statement