Excel is a powerful tool that allows users to perform complex calculations and analysis with ease. However, sometimes you may want to force Excel to perform manual calculations instead of automatic calculations. This can be useful in situations where you have a large workbook with many complex formulas, and you want to avoid the performance hit that comes with automatic calculations.

What is Manual Calculation?

Manual calculation is a feature in Excel that allows you to control when Excel calculates the formulas in your workbook. When manual calculation is turned on, Excel will not automatically recalculate the formulas in your workbook every time you make a change. Instead, you must manually initiate the calculation process by pressing the F9 key or by clicking the Calculate button on the Formulas tab.

How to Force Manual Calculation

There are several ways to force manual calculation in Excel. The easiest way is to use the Calculation Options button on the Formulas tab. Here's how:

Step 1: Open the Workbook

Open the workbook that you want to force manual calculation for.

Step 2: Go to the Formulas Tab

Click on the Formulas tab in the ribbon at the top of the Excel window.

Step 3: Click on Calculation Options

Click on the Calculation Options button in the Calculation group. This will open a drop-down menu with three options:

• Automatic
• Automatic Except for Data Tables
• Manual

Step 4: Select Manual

Select the Manual option from the drop-down menu. This will force Excel to perform manual calculations for the workbook.

Benefits of Manual Calculation

There are several benefits to using manual calculation in Excel:

• Improved Performance: Manual calculation can significantly improve the performance of large workbooks with complex formulas. By turning off automatic calculations, you can reduce the amount of time it takes for Excel to recalculate the formulas in your workbook.
• Greater Control: Manual calculation gives you greater control over when Excel calculates the formulas in your workbook. This can be useful in situations where you want to ensure that all of your data is up-to-date before performing calculations.
• Reduced Errors: Manual calculation can help reduce errors in your workbook by ensuring that all of your data is up-to-date before performing calculations. This can be especially important in situations where accuracy is critical.

Conclusion

Forcing manual calculation in Excel can be a useful tool for improving performance, increasing control, and reducing errors in your workbooks. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily force manual calculation for any workbook in Excel.