The ISFORMULA function in Excel is a useful tool for identifying whether a specific cell contains a formula. This function is particularly helpful in auditing spreadsheet integrity, allowing users to quickly check whether cells are populated with formulas or static values. By returning a simple Boolean value—either TRUE or FALSE—ISFORMULA simplifies decision-making processes in complex workbooks.

Syntax

ISFORMULA(reference)

• reference: The cell reference you want to evaluate. This can be a specific cell or a named range in your spreadsheet.

Example #1

=ISFORMULA(A1)

In this example, if cell A1 contains the formula =SUM(B1:B5), the function would return TRUE. If A1 had a static value like 10, the result would be FALSE.

Example #2

=ISFORMULA(C2)

Here, if C2 contains =AVERAGE(D1:D10), the function indicates the presence of a formula by returning TRUE. However, if C2 is empty or contains plain text like “Text”, the function outputs FALSE.

Example #3

=ISFORMULA(B3)

This call checks cell B3. If it has a formula like =D3E3, ISFORMULA will return TRUE. Conversely, if B3 is filled with a number like 5, it will return FALSE.

Error handling

• NAME?: This error occurs if the function name is misspelled. Excel cannot recognize the intended function.
• VALUE!: Triggered when the reference provided is not valid, such as a reference to a non-existent cell.

Conclusion

The ISFORMULA function is an efficient way to audit and verify cells in Excel to ensure that intended calculations are present. By incorporating this function into your spreadsheets, you can easily identify which cells hold formulas versus static data, enhancing both accuracy and functionality in your data analysis.