ISTEXT()

Syntax. ISTEXT(value)

Definition. This function returns TRUE if the value argument is not an empty string. Otherwise, the function returns FALSE.

Arguments

value (required). The expression (a number, text, a formula without an equal sign, a logical value, an error value, a reference, or a name) that you want to check

Background. This function is one of the nine IS() functions that return a logical value depending on the argument. The argument of the IS() functions is not converted for evaluation. This means that a string consisting of a number is interpreted as a string (not as a number). The function also returns FALSE if the value argument refers to an empty cell. If the reference points to a cell containing a reference to an empty cell, a zero might be displayed depending on the selected options.

The counterpart to this function is the ISNONTEXT() function:

ISTEXT(value)=NOT(ISNONTEXT(value))

Example. If products are either exempt from sales tax or incur a 7 percent or a 19 percent rate, the gross value can be calculated. Create a list box containing the different sales tax rates, and enter 0% for none. You could also keep none and use a formula to check for text.

Assume you have a list like the one shown in Figure 11-6.

Figure 11-6. A simple sales tax calculation.

You can enter the percentages in column K in a different worksheet. It is important to use this list in the Validation Rules dialog box for column M.

For all calculations in column N, the same formula is used:

=IF(ISTEXT(M42),,L42*M42)

ISTEXT()

See Also