THE SPREADSHEET DETECTIVE
V5.8, January 1999

OVERVIEW

Spreadsheet models are notoriously difficult to validate and undetected errors have lead to expensive mistakes and litigation.  The Spreadsheet Detective addresses this problem by documenting spreadsheets so as to make the models easier to develop, understand and validate.  

The documentation highlights inconsistent copies of formulas.  Unlike conventional tools these graphical annotations can be integrated with the spreadsheet that is being reviewed.  Slightly inconsistent formulas are a major source of undetected spreadsheet errors.

The Spreadsheet Detective also converts cryptic formulas like "= D34 - D35" into more meaningful expressions like "= D34`GrosProft - D35`FixeCosts" by adding AutoNames that are based on cell labels.  The advanced AutoName algorithms have proven to be quite robust on complex spreadsheets.   The tool also helps to overcome problems with existing named ranges which can be very misleading if they are not carefully maintained as a spreadsheet evolves.

Potential problems are highlighted including date processing that might not be year 2000 compliant.  Utilities are also provided that automate conversion of non-compliant code, as well as being able to compare two versions of a spreadsheet.

Existing customers include KPMG, Ernst & Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu,  Morgan Stanley,  CitiBank,  Bankers Trust, Australia Post, Bentleys, BDO Nelson Parkhill, FAI Insurance, AMP, Preston Resources, Macquarrie Bank, Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, William Mercer, Pannell Kerr Forster.


DOCUMENTATION/INSTALLATION

The main documentation is in the DetectEg.xls spreadsheet which should be in the same folder as this file.  Each worksheet describes a key feature of the tool and this can be read before loading the add-in.

If you are reading this you will have placed the DetectRA.exe or DetectUA.exe file in a new folder and executed it to pop the files out of the self extracting zip archive.  Alternatively, you may be reading this from a supplied floppy disk or CD Rom, in which case just copy the folder to a place that is convenient, usually under Program Files.

(Make sure that you press the shift key should you need to move a .exe program file or Windows may create a short cut instead of moving the file.  If this happens then delete the short cut and try again.  If you have difficulty try to copy the file and then delete the original.  It is essential that the ".exe" Application file is in the folder, not just a short cut.)

If you have registered (purchased) the Spreadsheet Detective you will also received a Detecti.ini file as a separate attachment that acknowledges your licence.  Simply replace the default evaluation Detecti.ini file that popped out of the archive with the attached version.

DetectEG.xls contains a detailed description of different installation options.  However, all that has to be done is to open the add-in file file in Excel and use the menu or toolbar.  There are four versions of the add-in, namely DetectR.xla (Registered), DetectUR.xla (Unregistered), for Excel 95 and 97, or Detect2R.xla and Detect2U.xla for Excel 2000.    Do not use any existing SDetective toolbars the very first time that you invoke a new version of an add-in such as the Detective.

The next time Excel is invoked, the SDetective toolbar will appear and pressing any button will cause the add-in to be loaded.   Alternatively, simply open the add-in file directly and then invoke the software from the SDetective menu.  When installed in this manner, the Detective will not appear in the Tools | Add-Ins list.  Extra information is available in the [DetectEg.xls]Installation! worksheet should that be necessary.

The Spreadsheet Detective has been written using Excel 7.0 (for Windows 95) and has been enhanced and tuned for Excel 97 and Excel 2000.  Excel 5.0a (for Windows 3.11) is no longer supported due to a lack of demand.  It also appears to work on the Macintosh, but this version is also not supported -- please contact us if you require a Macintosh version.

To uninstall the software simply delete the files and folder.  The Spreadsheet Detective does not tinker with the registry or any other system configuration files.

Please contact us if this version should expire before you have time to complete your evaluation, or if you have any difficulties or requests when using the tool.

A time limited but otherwise fully functional version of the tool can be obtained by contacting the authors at the address below.  There is also an Unregistered Shareware version of the tool with slightly restricted functionality which can be distinguished by the large words "Unregistered Shareware" on the initial splash screen.  This is all described in DetectEG.xls.

The web site below also provides an overview, brochure and instructions as to how to obtain the latest copy of the Spreadsheet Detective.

http://www.uq.net.au/detective
EMail: detective@uq.net.au
Ph. +61 (7) 3391 7727 or international mobile +61 (500) 51 7727


EVALUATION

In order to review the Spreadsheet Detective you might like to:-

- Work through the documentation spreadsheet, DetectEg.xls.  The first few worksheets are essentially the same as the web site, and then more details are provided about each feature of the Detective.  This is a new type of tool, so working through the examples in the documentation is important.  You might like to print out DetectEg.xls.

- Take a medium sized spreadsheet that you know and understand.  Briefly try to check it without the Detective, by working through the A1 formulas one by one.  Consider how long it would take to confirm that *every* formula in the spreadsheet is really correct and consistent.  This is important because spreadsheets are often used to make strategic decisions but are notoriously error prone.

- Now annotate the spreadsheet with the Shading.  See if the formulas in your spreadsheet have been copied correctly and that none have been overridden by constants.  (There are alternatives to the shading representation for very colourful spreadsheets, but they are rarely needed because the tool takes care to change the colours it uses if necessary.)

- Now annotate the entire spreadsheet with the formula schemas or use the formular report for the shareware version.  The spreadsheet's secrets should be revealed.  If you were seriously reviewing the spreadsheet you could print it out and see the formulas as well as just the numbers.  (If there are existing manual page breaks you may need to set the Scale to Fit option appropriately as described in [DetectEg.xls]Using!.)

- Finally, look at an important result and run the precedent report to see how it was calculated.  Double click on a row in the report and you will be taken to the corresponding cell in the spreadsheet.  The normal F5 key will then return you to the report.

A few points to note:-

- Annotating huge spreadsheets takes some time.  However, this is still a tiny fraction of the time it takes to properly review a huge model.  When developing a model, it is possible to first select a range of cells and then annotate just that range.  It is also possible to select multiple worksheets.

- The tool adds AutoNames to A1 references so that formulas like "= D34 - D35" are documented as "= D34`GrosProft - D35`FixeCosts".  This is very important on larger models where the referenced cells are not visible at the same time as the cell containing the formula.  

AutoNames use heuristics that find appropriate labels in the spreadsheet.  The are almost always helpful in understanding the cryptic A1 references but the heuristics may occasionally fail.  If someone was using the Detective regularly then minor changes to the layout of a spreadsheet can ensure that the AutoNames are perfect as described in DetectEg.xls.  In any case AutoNames are much better than plain A1 references, and unlike conventional Named Ranges they automatically remain consistent as the model evolves.

Thank you for taking the time to evaluate the Spreadsheet Detective.
