
- Excel Functions - Home
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- Lookup & Reference Functions
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- FORMULATEXT Function
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- AVERAGEA Function
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- BETA.DIST Function
- BETA.INV Function
- BINOM.DIST Function
- BINOM.DIST.RANGE Function
- BINOM.INV Function
- CHISQ.DIST Function
- CHISQ.DIST.RT Function
- CHISQ.INV Function
- CHISQ.INV.RT Function
- CHISQ.TEST Function
- CONFIDENCE.NORM Function
- CONFIDENCE.T Function
- CORREL Function
- COUNT Function
- COUNTA Function
- COUNTBLANK Function
- COUNTIF Function
- COUNTIFS Function
- COVARIANCE.P Function
- COVARIANCE.S Function
- DEVSQ Function
- EXPON.DIST Function
- F.DIST Function
- F.DIST.RT Function
- F.INV Function
- F.INV.RT Function
- F.TEST Function
- FISHER Function
- FISHERINV Function
- FORECAST Function
- FORECAST.ETS Function
- FORECAST.ETS.CONFINT Function
- FORECAST.ETS.SEASONALITY Function
- FORECAST.ETS.STAT Function
- FORECAST.LINEAR Function
- FREQUENCY Function
- GAMMA Function
- GAMMA.DIST Function
- GAMMA.INV Function
- GAMMALN Function
- GAMMALN.PRECISE Function
- GAUSS Function
- GEOMEAN
- GROWTH
- HARMEAN
- HYPGEOM.DIST
- INTERCEPT Function
- KURT Function
- LARGE Function
- LINEST Function
- LOGEST Function
- LOGNORM.DIST Function
- LOGNORM.INV Function
- MAX Function
- MAXA Function
- MAXIFS Function
- MEDIAN Function
- MIN Function
- MINA Function
- MINIFS Function
- MODE.MULT Function
- MODE.SNGL Function
- NEGBINOM.DIST Function
- NORM.DIST Function
- NORM.INV Function
- NORM.S.DIST Function
- NORM.S.INV Function
- PEARSON Function
- PERCENTILE.EXC
- PERCENTILE.INC
- PERCENTRANK.EXC
- PERCENTRANK.INC
- PERMUT
- PERMUTATIONA
- PHI
- POISSON.DIST
- PROB
- QUARTILE.EXC
- QUARTILE.INC
- RANK.AVG
- RANK.EQ
- RSQ
- SKEW
- SKEW.P
- SLOPE
- SMALL
- STANDARDIZE
- STDEV.P
- STDEV.S
- STDEVA
- STDEVPA
- STEYX
- T.DIST
- T.DIST.2T
- T.DIST.RT
- T.INV
- T.INV.2T
- T.TEST
- TREND
- TRIMMEAN Function
- VAR.P Function
- VAR.S Function
- VARA Function
- VARPA Function
- WEIBULL.DIST Function
- Z.TEST Function
- Web Functions
- Web Functions
- ENCODEURL Function
- FILTERXML Function
- WEBSERVICE Function
Excel - FORMULATEXT Function
FORMULATEXT Function
In large financial modelling, it is quite challenging to get deep insights into a complex formula in Excel. To demystify the complicated formula, you can get the tremendous advantage of the FORMULATEXT function, which is a part of the Lookup and Reference function in Excel.
The Excel FORMULATEXT function will retrieve a formula as a string. However, the FORMULATEXT function is not available in the older version of Excel and is exclusive to Excel 2013 and the later version.
Compatibility
This advanced Excel function is compatible with the following versions of MS Excel −
- Excel for Microsoft 365
- Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac
- Excel for the web
- Excel 2024
- Excel 2024 for Mac
- Excel 2021
- Excel 2021 for Mac
- Excel 2019
- Excel 2016
- Excel 2013
Syntax
The syntax of the FORMULATEXT function is as follows −
=FORMULATEXT(reference)
Arguments
You can use the following arguments with the FORMULATEXT function −
Argument | Description | Required / Optional |
---|---|---|
Reference | It specifies a cell reference or cell range. | Required |
Points to Remember
- If the cell reference specified in the Reference argument contains no formula then the FORMULATEXT function will return the #N/A error.
- If the cell reference contains the formula larger than 8192 characters, then the FORMULATEXT function will retrieve the #N/A error.
- This function works efficiently with the circular reference as the FORMULATEXT function will return the same formula in the text form.
- If the Reference argument refers to another worksheet which is protected, then in this case, this function will return the #N/A error.
- If the Reference argument points to the cell reference of another workbook which is unopened then in this case, the FORMULATEXT function will return the #N/A error.
Examples of FORMULATEXT Function in Excel
Practice the following examples to learn the use of the FORMULATEXT function in Excel.
Example 1: What does the FORMULATEXT Function do in Excel?
In this example, we will apply the FORMULATEXT function in the specific cell range to know the intricate formula.
Solution
Step 1 − Consider the sample dataset, which comprises two columns named Formula and Result. The list of independent formulas whose results are specified in the cell range B3:B6.

Step 2 − After that, select the cell range C2:C8 and write the formula =FORMULATEXT(B2) in the formula bar.

And then, press the "Ctrl+Enter" tab to populate the cell formulas.

As you can observe in this example, using the FORMULATEXT() function, all formulas are displayed in the form of the text string. If the cell reference doesn't contain the formula, then in that case, the #N/A error will be retrieved by the FORMULATEXT function.

Example 2: Combining with IFERROR function
In this example, we will cross check whether the cell reference contains formula or not. If it does not contain the formula encountering the error then the specific message is to be populated using the IFERROR function
Solution
Step 1 − First, select the C2 cell and enter the formula =IFERROR(FORMULATEXT(B2), "ERROR Found"). The IFERROR function verify whether the error occurred when evaluating the FORMUALTEXT function.
In this expression, first the FORMULATEXT(B2) formula is evaluated. If the formula exist in the B2 cell then the formula will be displayed as a text format. If formula not exist, then the "Error Found" message is displayed.

After that, hit the Enter tab.

Step 2 − Afterward, move to the next cell C3, double click on it and type the formula =IFERROR(FORMULATEXT(B3), "ERROR Found"). Here, the cell reference B3 points to the number 34.

And then, press the Enter tab.

Therefore, we can successfully handle errors when using the FORMUALTEXT function through merging IFERROR function.
Download Practice Sheet
You can download and use the sample data sheet to practice the FORMULATEXT function.