How to eliminate circular reference error?

Question

Every time I open a workbook and save a workbook I get the following error message.  As soon as I acknowledge the error message by clicking on "OK", the ribbon goes away and leaves a blank for a moment.

"Microsoft Excel cannot calculate a formula. There is a circular reference in an open workbook, but the references that cause it cannot be listed for you.  Try editing the last formula you entered or removing it with the Undo command."

I never created or worked on a formula in this workbook.  However I started from a given template.  What I could remember before the error started to surface is I cut or copied and pasted some columns.  I stepped through the whole columns I couldn't see any hidden formula.  I did a few cut and paste and copy and paste so I don't remember enough to step back.

Anyway I love to have such situation sorted out.  Any easy way to reveal all hidden formulas in a workbook.

Answer 1

Thanks for your advice.  I did as you suggested on all three worksheets of the workbook in question.  I can't find any formula at all.  Could hidden macro cause the similar problem?  Anyway, the problem for some reason hasn't happened today yet.

Answer 2

You can change the view so that you see the formulas in each cell rather than the computed values. On the Formulas ribbon click Show Formulas, which is in the Formular Auditing group.

However, if you are not using any formulas in your sheet you could copy and paste the entire sheet into a new document, but instead of pasting as normal, select Paste Special then Paste Values. This will not copy any formulas, just the values calculated.