What does a composite worksheet rely on when combining component worksheets?

A composite worksheet is designed to aggregate and integrate data from multiple component worksheets effectively. The correct answer emphasizes that the composite worksheet depends on the settings of the component worksheets. This means that the configurations, formatting, and criteria established in each individual component worksheet influence how data is combined and presented in the composite worksheet.

Settings can include various parameters such as data types, formulas, and any filters that are applied, which determine how the data is interpreted and merged. This reliance ensures that the composite worksheet correctly reflects the intended analysis and reporting of the underlying data, maintaining integrity and relevance in the results.

The other options suggest less accurate concepts. For instance, the notion that it relies solely on user-defined criteria overlooks the importance of the existing structure within component worksheets. Additionally, the idea that it combines data regardless of compatibility could lead to inaccuracies, as a proper composite worksheet needs harmonization of data types and formats. Finally, using average values of component data implies a simplification that is not necessarily characteristic of composite worksheets, which strive to present a more detailed aggregation rather than a statistical summary.