Syntax. ISTEXT(value)

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

Arguments

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)