Key Features to Compare Auditing Tools

Formulas and Structure       

• Explicitly shows how a formula has been copied
  Ie. whether from above or from the left.  One should not have to guess, guessing overlooks errors.
• Shows structure on the actual spreadsheet
  Working with separate maps is awkward.
• Maintains and restores any existing cell colors
  The spreadsheet may already use colors to separate assets from expenses, good customers from bad ones, validation etc.  It is important that a tool does not damage this preexisting colouring.
• Understands skipped formulas
  It is common place for a subtotal row to cross the normal flow of copied formulas.  It is important that a tool recognizes that the formulas that follow the subtotal are just copies.  (Eg. Speckled shading in [SDetective_Help.xls]Shaded!I37.)
• Provides an effective, condensed Map
  
• Really understands array formulas
  Especially single cell array formulas, as shown in the Formulas worksheet.  These can be very misleading otherwise.  (Try documenting the Formulas worksheet with other tools!)

AutoNames or "Natural Language"       

• Has an effective way to describe A1 references
  In a large spreadsheet, referring to the wrong cell can be very hard to find if all you can see is "Foo!G137 + Bar!D321"
• Works well with non-standard formatting
  Real spreadsheets often contain sub-blocks of formulas and labels.  A lot of care has been put in to the  Detective's algorithms to pick the right cells for labels.  Eg. it knows 2005 is a likely date, but not 5002.  Labels that occur in the middle of spreadsheets should generally be handled correctly.
• Method to override AutoName creation
  No heuristic algorithm will be perfect, the Detective lets you manually override AutoNames if necessary.
  

Named Ranges

• Method to really validate Named Ranges
  Not just provide a list of them and their A1 definitions which is difficult to review.  They need to be directly related to the spreadsheet to make errors obvious.
• Manipulate Named Ranges
  In particular, to be able to rename them and have formulas that use them automatically be updated.
  

Precedents & Dependents       

• Conveniently trace data flow from inputs to outputs
  Especially across worksheets.
• Look ahead to avoid navigation
  It should be possible to see a cell's direct precedents and dependents without having to go there.
• Highlights unreferenced cells
  Makes cells that are not referenced by any unique formula obvious.
  

Other Features

• Compare Workbooks and Worksheets
  With sensible handling of inserted and deleted rows and columns.
• Large Scale Model Overviews
  To see how data flows between worksheets in complex models.
• Can Discover workbooks and the workbooks they depend on.
  
• Sensitivity Analysis
  Many errors can be highlighted by looking at a model's first derivative.
• Detect Common Errors
  Without getting into the mind reading game, some constructs are obviously dubious.  Eg. a Sum that is adding up non-numeric cells.
  

Features Missing in the Spreadsheet Detective

• A Mature Product
  The Spreadsheet Detective is a mature, fully featured product.  But we are always interested to receive requests from users for even more power.