Work with notes and queries

You have the option to add notes or queries to a calculation. Notes and queries can be added to a specific cell or for the entire sheet. A query is similar to a note but allows responses. A query can function as an informal audit trail. You can view the query and its responses as a record of a discussion about a sheet or cell. Both notes and queries can be rolled forward to subsequent reporting periods.

By default, notes and queries are added to an individual cell, but can easily be applied to an entire sheet.

Add a note or query to a calculation

Open the calculation that will contain the note or query.

In the left panel, open the sheet that will contain the note or query.

To add a note or query to a specific cell in the calculation, select anywhere inside the cell.

Select the notes icon

on the toolbar ribbon, and select Add Note
to add a new note or Add Query
to add a new query. (If the information you are entering potentially requires a response, select Add Query
.)

In the popup window, type your note or query in the box.

If you want to apply this note to the entire sheet, select the Sheet
checkbox. Otherwise, the note will be applied to the current cell.

When you begin typing, a message appears, showing the maximum number of characters allowed and the number remaining for your note.

Select the Save
button.

When there is a note or query, an icon appears in the cell or in the left pane next to the sheet.

Edit a note or query

To edit a cell-level note:

Select the note indicator icon in the cell. A popup opens.

Select the small arrow to the right and select an option.

If you select Edit
, a popup opens. Type your updates to the note or query and select the Save
button to save your changes.

If you select Delete
, you are prompted to confirm that you want to delete the note. Select the Delete
button. The note or query is removed from the cell.

To edit a sheet-level note or query:

Locate the sheet in the left pane and select the notes

button. A panel opens on the right side of the screen.

Use the dropdown to select Notes
or Queries
.

Select the small arrow to the right of the note or query and select an option.

If you select Edit
, a popup opens. Type your updates to the note or query and select the Save
button to save your changes.

If you select Delete
, you are prompted to confirm that you want to delete the note. Select the Delete
button. The note or query is removed from the cell.

To mark the open query as closed, check the Mark as closed
checkbox. (For queries only.)

To mark all queries in a sheet as closed, check the Mark All as Closed
checkbox. (For queries only.)

Respond to a query

Open the query:

For a query at the sheet level, locate the sheet in the left pane and select the notes indicator.

Select Queries
in the dropdown.

For a query at the cell level, select the queries indicator in the cell.

Select Respond
.

Type your response in the space provided.

Select Save
to save your response.

Solutions by Industry

Work with notes and queries

Add a note or query to a calculation

Edit a note or query

Respond to a query

This article applies to: