Checking function
ISBLANK
Is this cell empty?
Purpose
Ask whether a cell was left empty
Returns
TRUE if the cell holds nothing at all
Syntax
=ISBLANK(text)
| Argument | Required | What goes here |
|---|---|---|
text | Required | The cell to check, usually A2. |
How to use ISBLANK
ISBLANK answers one row at a time: is there anything in this cell.
It is what you use in the test slot of an IF, so a schedule can say "not posted" rather than showing a blank that could equally mean nought.
COUNTBLANK is the same question asked of a whole column, and is usually what you want first: find out whether there are gaps at all, then find where they are.
Examples
Every result below is worked out by the same evaluator that marks your answers, on the sheet shown here.
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reference | Supplier name | Amount | Posted |
| 2 | GL-6100-8801 | brightwell paper | 1500 | Y |
| 3 | GL-6200-8802 | calder UTILITIES | 320 | y |
| 4 | GL-6100-8803 | meridian freight ltd | 2750 | |
| 5 | GL-6300-8804 | ashgrove catering | 184 | Y |
| 6 | GL-6200-8805 | THORNBURY print | 760 | |
| 7 | GL-6100-8806 | Brightwell Paper | 1120 | Y |
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
=ISBLANK(D4)Row 4 has nothing in the posted column. | TRUE |
=ISBLANK(D2)Row 2 has a Y in it, so FALSE. | FALSE |
=IF(ISBLANK(D4),"Not posted","Posted")The useful form. A gap becomes a word rather than a silence. | Not posted |
Notes
- A cell holding a formula that returns "" looks empty and is not blank. That is the usual reason ISBLANK disagrees with your eyes.
Related
Practise ISBLANK in Unit 20
A reference tells you what it does. A unit makes you use it.