Goal-directed debugging of spreadsheets

Abstract

We present a semi-automatic debugger for spreadsheet systems that is specifically targeted at end-user programmers. Users can report expected values for cells that yield incorrect results. The system then generates change suggestions that could correct the error. Users can interactively explore, apply, refine, or reject these change suggestions. The computation of change suggestions is based on a formal inference system that propagates expected values backwards across formulas. The system is fully integrated into Microsoft Excel and can be used to automatically detect and correct various kinds of errors in spreadsheets. Test results show that the system works accurately and reliably.