Sometimes we need to determine whether a cell contains text or not. Because that cell might be needed for other purposes where the cell format needs to be text. Here, we will discuss how you can return True if the cell contains text in Excel using 8 easy methods with detailed explanations.
Here, we directly returned TRUE in cell C5 based on whether there is a text in cell B5 using the ISTEXT function.
How to Return TRUE If Cell Contains Text in Excel: 8 Easy Ways
Here in the below dataset, we have the product category of the vegetable cart. It also has some outliers also as numbers. For this dataset, we will determine which of them are text and return TRUE if they are text indeed. To avoid any compatibility issues, try to use the Excel 365 edition.
1. Use ISTEXT Function to Directly Return TRUE If Cell Contains Text
Here, the ISTEXT function will directly determine whether the cell has text or not. And later will return TRUE or FALSE based on it. Therefore, follow the below steps to return true if the cell contains the text.
Steps:
- Select cell C5 and enter the following formula:
=ISTEXT(B5)
- Press Enter after this.
- Then drag the Fill Handle to cell C13.
- After that, you will notice that the range of cell C5:C13 returned TRUE or FALSE based on whether there is text in each cell in the range of cell B5:B13.
Read More: If Cell Contains Text Then Add Text in Another Cell in Excel
2. Return TRUE for Text Through IF Function with Match Word
Here, the IF function will be used to determine whether a cell has text values or not. And return TRUE or FALSE based on it.
Steps:
- Select cell C5 and enter the following formula:
=IF(B4="Bars","True","False")
- Press Enter after this.
- Then drag the Fill Handle to cell C13.
- After that, you will notice that the range of cell C5:C13 returned TRUE or FALSE based on whether there is text in each cell in the range of cell B5:B13.
Read More: How to Assign Value If Cell Contains Word in Excel
3. Utilize ISNUMBER and SEARCH Functions to Return TRUE for Specific Text
The combination of the ISNUMBER and the SEARCH function will be used to determine whether a cell has text values or not and return TRUE and FALSE based upon it.
Steps:
- Select cell C5 and enter the following formula:
=ISNUMBER(SEARCH(B5,"Bars"))
- Press Enter after this.
🔍 Formula Breakdown
➢ SEARCH(B5,”Bars”): This part of the function will determine whether the text Bars is in cell B5 and return its position.
➢ =ISNUMBER(SEARCH(B5,”Bars”)): This part of the function will determine whether the return from the previous function is numerical or not. If it is numerical, then it will return TRUE, otherwise FALSE.
- Then drag the Fill Handle to cell C13.
- After that, you will notice that the range of cell C5:C13 returned TRUE or FALSE based on whether there is text in each cell in the range of cell B5:B13.
Read More: If Cell Contains Specific Text Then Add 1 in Excel
4. Apply ISNUMBER and FIND Functions to Return True by Finding Text
The combination of the ISNUMBER and the FIND function will be used to determine whether a cell has text values or not and return TRUE and FALSE based on it.
Steps:
- Select cell C5 and enter the following formula:
=ISNUMBER(FIND(B5,"Bars"))
- Press Enter after this.
🔍 Formula Breakdown
➢ FIND(B5,”Bars”): This part of the function will determine whether the text Bars is in cell B5 and return its position.
➢ ISNUMBER(FIND(B5,”Bars”)): This part of the function will determine whether the return from the previous function is numerical or not. If it jis numerical, then it will return TRUE, otherwise FALSE.
- Then drag the Fill Handle to cell C13.
- After that, you will notice that the range of cell C5:C13 returned TRUE or FALSE based on whether there is text in each cell in the range of cell B5:B13.
5. Join IF, ISERRROR, and FIND Functions to Get TRUE for Text
Here we joined functions like IF, IFERROR, and FIND to determine whether a cell has text value or not and then return TRUE or FALSE based upon it. So, learn the following process to return true if the cell contains text in Excel.
Steps:
- Select cell C5 and enter the following formula:
=IF(ISERROR(FIND("Bars",B5,1)),"False","TRUE")
- Press Enter after this.
🔍 Formula Breakdown
➢ FIND(“Bars”,B5,1): This part of the function will determine whether the text Bars is in cell B5 and return its position of it. 1 represent as the starting position.
➢ ISERROR(FIND(“Bars”,B5,1)): This will determine whether the outcome from the previous function has an error or not
➢ IF(ISERROR(FIND(“Bars”,B5,1)),”False”,”TRUE”): This part of the function will determine whether the return from the previous function has any error or not. If it is an error, then it will return FALSE, otherwise, will return TRUE.
- Then drag the Fill Handle to cell C13.
- After that, you will notice that the range of cell C5:C13 returned TRUE or FALSE based on whether there is text in each cell in the range of cell B5:B13.
Read More: Excel If Cell Begins with Certain Text Then Return Value
6. Combine IF and COUNTIF Functions to Return True by Condition
Here we joined functions like IF and COUNTIF to determine whether a cell has text value or not and then return TRUE or FALSE based upon it.
Steps:
- Select cell C5 and enter the following formula:
=IF(COUNTIF(B5,"*"&"Bars"&"*"),"True","False")
- Press Enter after this.
🔍 Formula Breakdown
➢ COUNTIF(B5,”*”&”Bars”&”*”): This part of this function will count the character that the cell B5 is equal to Bars.
➢ IF(COUNTIF(B5,”*”&”Bars”&”*”),”True”,”False”) This part of the function will determine whether the return from the previous function has any number or not. If it is a number, then it will return TRUE FALSE, otherwise, will return FALSE.
- Then drag the Fill Handle to cell C13.
- After that, you will notice that the range of cell C5:C13 returned TRUE or FALSE based on whether there is text in each cell in the range of cell B5:B13.
Read More: Check If Cell Contains Text Then Return Value with Multiple Conditions in Excel
7. Apply IF and EXACT Functions by Matching Word Precisely
Here we joined functions like IF and EXACT to determine whether a cell has text value or not and then return TRUE or FALSE based upon it.
Steps:
- Select cell C5 and enter the following formula:
=IF(EXACT(B5,"Bars"), "True", "False")
- Press Enter after this.
🔍 Formula Breakdown
➢ EXACT(B5,”Bars”): This part of this function will determine the cell value in cell B5 with Bars or not. If they are the same, then it will return TRUE, otherwise FALSE.
➢ IF(EXACT(B5,”Bars”), “True”, “False”): This part will return TRUE if the return from the previous function is TRUE, otherwise it will return FALSE.
- Then drag the Fill Handle to cell C13.
- After that, you will notice that the range of cell C5:C13 returned TRUE or FALSE based on whether there is text in each cell in the range of cell B5:B13.
Read More: How to Check If Cell Contains Text Then Return Value in Excel
8. Embedding VBA to Return TRUE If Cell Contains Exact Text
Using a simple VBA code will make the task of determining whether a cell contains text or not hassle-free and faster. Hence, follow the below process to return true if the cell contains the text in Excel.
Steps:
- We have the text value in cell B5, we need to determine whether this cell actually contains text or not and then return Yes or No based on the inspection.
- First, go to the Developer tab and click on Visual Basic. If you don’t have that, you have to enable the Developer tab. You can also press ‘Alt+F11’for open the Visual Basic Editor.
- Then there will be a new dialog box. In that dialog box, click on Insert > Module.
- Next, in the Module editor window, type the following code:
Sub Contains_text()
If InStr(Range("B5").Value, "Bars") > 0 Then
Range("C5").Value = "True"
End If
End Sub
- Then close the Module window.
- After that, go to the View tab > Macros.
- Then click on View Macros.
- After clicking View Macros, select the macros that you created just now. The file name here is Contains_text.
- Then click Run.
- After clicking Run, you will notice that cell C5 is now showing TRUE, as cell B5 has text.
Read More: How to Return Value in Excel If Cell Contains Text from List
Download Practice Workbook
Conclusion
To sum it up, the issue of how we can use Format Painter multiple times in Excel is shown here in 5 separate methods. For this problem, a macro-enabled workbook is available to download where you can practice these methods. Feel free to ask any questions or feedback through the comment section.
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