Checks and Controls in Spreadsheets

TL;DR

This paper discusses practical tips for building self-checking mechanisms into spreadsheets to improve their robustness and reliability, making them easier to test and validate.

Contribution

It provides a set of actionable guidelines for spreadsheet developers to implement simple self-checks and controls, enhancing spreadsheet quality.

Findings

Self-checking improves spreadsheet robustness

Simple cross-foot checks are effective

Readability aids testing and validation

Abstract

Spreadsheets that are informally created are harder to test than they should be. Simple cross-foot checks or being easily readable are modest but attainable goals for every spreadsheet developer. This paper lists some tips on building self-checking into a spreadsheet in order to provide more confidence to the reader that a spreadsheet is robust.