How to use the FORMULATEXT function in Excel

The FORMULATEXT function displays the formula contained in a specified cell as a text string. This function was introduced in Microsoft Excel 2013.

Syntax:

=FORMULATEXT(reference)

Argument:

• reference (Required):
  The cell reference containing the formula you want to display as text.

USING THE FORMULATEXT FUNCTION

Example: Display a Cell’s Formula

Given a cell (B7) containing a formula to calculate Joy’s mathematics score:

Steps to Display the Formula:

1. Select an empty cell type in the function =FORMULATEXT

1. Enter the function:

=FORMULATEXT(B7)

1. Press Enter

Result:
The actual formula from cell B7 will be displayed as text in the selected cell.

ERRORS & IMPORTANT NOTES

Common Errors:

• #VALUE! Error:
  Occurs when invalid data types are used as inputs.
• #N/A Error:
  Occurs when:
  • The referenced cell doesn’t contain a formula
  • Referencing a closed workbook
  • The formula exceeds 8192 characters
  • The worksheet is protected

Key Points:

• Only displays formulas – won’t show values or text
• Particularly useful for:
  • Documenting complex spreadsheets
  • Troubleshooting formulas
  • Auditing workbook calculations