Excel Calculation Mode, Volatile Functions and Recalculation Audit
Find the reasons a workbook is slow or shows stale numbers.
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Review a workbook for calculation problems. Symptoms: [SYMPTOMS]. File size, sheets and rough number of formulas: [SIZE_INFO]. Functions used heavily: [FUNCTIONS]. Calculation settings if known: [SETTINGS]. External links and add-ins: [LINKS]. Check for manual calculation left on, volatile functions (NOW, TODAY, OFFSET, INDIRECT, RAND) used widely, whole-column references in heavy formulas, repeated lookups that could use a helper column, array formulas over large ranges, unnecessary conditional formatting ranges, and links to closed files. Explain how each causes slowness or stale numbers, and rank causes by likelihood given my symptoms. Return a table with Cause, How to test, Fix and Expected benefit, easiest wins first. Give a timing test: press the recalculation key, count seconds, change one setting and repeat; save a copy first and compare totals before and after. Warn about switching to manual calculation without telling users, because stale numbers lead to wrong decisions. Mark setting names [VERIFY]. If the file is shared, say which fixes affect other users, such as changing the calculation setting. Tell me which single change you would try first and what result would show it worked.
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