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Information function

ISFORMULA

Returns TRUE if a cell contains a formula.

OccasionalDifficulty 1100 · ProficientUsage rank #182 of 520
Practice · 2 questions →

When to use it

TRUE when a cell contains a formula. The audit tool for spotting hardcoded numbers in a model.

The shape of it

Syntax
=ISFORMULA(reference)

Worked examples

  • A formula cell

    =ISFORMULA(B2) → TRUE

    B2 holds =A2*1.1.

  • A constant

    =ISFORMULA(A1) → FALSE

    A1 holds a typed number.

  • Find hardcodes

    =SUMPRODUCT(--NOT(ISFORMULA(B2:B100))) → 2

    How many cells in a calculated column were overwritten with values.

Worth knowing

  • Pair it with conditional formatting to highlight hardcoded numbers in a model.
  • Conditional formatting rule =NOT(ISFORMULA(B2)) on a calculation block highlights overwrites.
  • FORMULATEXT shows the formula itself.
  • Introduced in Excel 2013.

Where it goes wrong

  • Returns #VALUE! for a non-reference argument.
  • A formula that returns a constant still counts as a formula.

Related

ISBLANKISNUMBERISERRORISTEXTISNANA

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