Master the FORMULATEXT Function: Extract Formulas from Excel Cells
=FORMULATEXT(reference)The FORMULATEXT function is a powerful Excel tool that allows you to extract and display the actual formula text from any cell containing a formula. This function is particularly valuable when you need to audit spreadsheets, document complex calculations, or create dynamic formula references for training and documentation purposes. Unlike viewing formulas through the formula bar one cell at a time, FORMULATEXT enables you to display multiple formulas simultaneously within your worksheet, making it an essential function for spreadsheet auditors, analysts, and educators. When working with large, complex spreadsheets, understanding what formulas are doing becomes crucial for maintaining data integrity and troubleshooting errors. FORMULATEXT returns the formula as text, allowing you to reference, analyze, and compare formulas programmatically. This function works exclusively with cells containing formulas—if you apply it to a cell with a static value, it will return a #N/A error. Available since Excel 2013, FORMULATEXT has become indispensable for professionals who need transparency and auditability in their spreadsheet models.
Syntax & Parameters
The FORMULATEXT function follows a straightforward syntax with a single required parameter: =FORMULATEXT(reference). The reference parameter must point to a specific cell containing a formula. This reference can be provided as a direct cell address (such as A1), a named range, or even a cell reference derived from another function using INDIRECT. The function returns the formula as a text string, preserving the exact formula syntax including equal signs, function names, and cell references. When you reference a cell containing a formula, FORMULATEXT displays that formula exactly as it appears in the formula bar, including any absolute references (with dollar signs) or relative references. If the referenced cell contains only a value rather than a formula, the function returns the #N/A error. The returned text can be used in concatenation operations, comparisons, or further analysis. It's important to note that FORMULATEXT returns the formula as it was entered, not the result of that formula. This distinction is crucial when building audit trails or documentation systems. The function is volatile in nature, meaning it recalculates whenever the spreadsheet recalculates, ensuring you always see the current formula content.
referencePractical Examples
Auditing Financial Model Formulas
=FORMULATEXT(B5)If cell B5 contains the formula =SUM(B2:B4), this FORMULATEXT function will display the text '=SUM(B2:B4)' in the cell where the function is entered. This allows the analyst to create a complete reference document of all calculations used in the model.
Creating Dynamic Formula Documentation
=FORMULATEXT(A2)In column B, the developer places FORMULATEXT functions that reference the formulas in column A. When column A contains various calculations like =IF(C2>100,C2*0.1,C2*0.05), the FORMULATEXT function in B2 displays this entire formula as text, creating a self-documenting spreadsheet.
Conditional Formula Analysis
=IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("VLOOKUP",FORMULATEXT(D10))),"Uses VLOOKUP","No VLOOKUP")This nested formula checks whether the formula in cell D10 contains the text 'VLOOKUP'. If FORMULATEXT returns a formula containing VLOOKUP, the SEARCH function finds it and returns a number, triggering the IF statement to display 'Uses VLOOKUP'. This enables bulk analysis of formula dependencies.
Key Takeaways
- FORMULATEXT extracts the formula text from a cell as a text string, enabling formula auditing, documentation, and analysis without viewing the formula bar.
- The function returns #N/A when referencing cells containing only values, making error handling with IFERROR essential for robust implementations.
- FORMULATEXT is available in Excel 2013 and later versions and works with single cell references, named ranges, and INDIRECT functions.
- Combining FORMULATEXT with text functions enables powerful formula analysis, including searching for specific functions, comparing formulas, and creating automated audit trails.
- FORMULATEXT is volatile and recalculates whenever the spreadsheet recalculates, ensuring your formula documentation always reflects current calculations.
Pro Tips
Use FORMULATEXT with INDIRECT and ROW/COLUMN functions to create dynamic formula extraction systems that automatically adjust as you add or delete rows. This creates self-updating audit trails without manual maintenance.
Impact : Reduces manual work in maintaining formula documentation and enables real-time visibility into spreadsheet calculations across large, frequently-updated models.
Combine FORMULATEXT with text functions like SUBSTITUTE to create formula comparison tools that normalize formula text for comparison. This helps identify functionally identical formulas written in different ways across your workbook.
Impact : Enables identification of redundant or inconsistent calculations, leading to optimization opportunities and improved spreadsheet maintainability.
Create a separate 'Formula Reference' worksheet where you use FORMULATEXT to document all critical formulas in your model. Link this sheet to your main calculations using INDIRECT, so it updates automatically when formulas change.
Impact : Provides stakeholders and auditors with transparent, always-current documentation of your calculation methodology without cluttering your main worksheet.
Use FORMULATEXT within conditional formatting rules to highlight cells containing specific functions or patterns. For example, highlight all cells containing volatile functions like TODAY() or RAND() for review.
Impact : Improves spreadsheet quality by making it easy to identify potentially problematic formulas that might cause recalculation delays or unexpected behavior.
Useful Combinations
Formula Audit with Error Handling
=IFERROR(FORMULATEXT(A1),"No formula or error in cell")This combination wraps FORMULATEXT with IFERROR to gracefully handle cases where the referenced cell contains only a value or doesn't exist. Instead of displaying #N/A or #REF!, it displays a user-friendly message, making your audit sheets more professional and easier to read.
Dynamic Formula Search and Identification
=IF(ISERROR(FORMULATEXT(B5)),"",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("SUMIF",FORMULATEXT(B5))),"Contains SUMIF",""))This advanced combination searches for specific functions within formulas. It first checks if a formula exists using ISERROR, then searches for a specific function name using SEARCH. This enables automated categorization of formulas by function type, useful for identifying all SUMIF formulas in a complex model for migration or optimization purposes.
Formula Documentation with Cell Reference Display
=CONCATENATE("Cell ",ADDRESS(ROW(),COLUMN())," contains: ",FORMULATEXT(A2))This combination creates comprehensive documentation by combining FORMULATEXT with ADDRESS and CONCATENATE functions. It displays not only the formula but also identifies which cell it came from, creating a self-referential documentation system that's valuable for training materials and audit trails.
Common Errors
Cause: The most common error occurs when FORMULATEXT references a cell containing only a static value rather than a formula. For example, =FORMULATEXT(A1) where A1 contains the number 100 instead of a formula will return #N/A.
Solution: Verify that the referenced cell actually contains a formula by clicking on it and checking the formula bar. If it contains only a value, either move your FORMULATEXT reference to a cell with a formula, or use IFERROR to handle the error gracefully: =IFERROR(FORMULATEXT(A1),"No formula in this cell").
Cause: This error appears when the reference parameter points to a cell that no longer exists, typically because a row or column was deleted after the FORMULATEXT formula was created. The reference becomes invalid and broken.
Solution: Correct the cell reference in the FORMULATEXT function to point to an existing cell. If the original cell was deleted, you'll need to manually update the reference. Use the Find & Replace feature to locate and fix broken references systematically across multiple cells.
Cause: This error occurs when the reference parameter is not a valid cell reference format. For example, using FORMULATEXT("text") or providing a range instead of a single cell reference can trigger this error. FORMULATEXT requires a single cell reference, not a range.
Solution: Ensure your reference parameter is a valid single cell address. If you need to extract formulas from multiple cells, create separate FORMULATEXT functions for each cell. If using INDIRECT, verify that the result is a valid single cell reference like 'A1', not a range like 'A1:A10'.
Troubleshooting Checklist
- 1.Verify that the referenced cell contains a formula (check the formula bar), not just a value. If it contains only a value, FORMULATEXT will return #N/A.
- 2.Confirm that the cell reference in FORMULATEXT is valid and hasn't been deleted or moved. Broken references will return #REF! errors.
- 3.Check that you're referencing a single cell, not a range. FORMULATEXT accepts only single cell references; ranges will cause #VALUE! errors.
- 4.If using INDIRECT, verify that the text it produces is a valid single cell address (like 'A1'), not a range or invalid reference.
- 5.Ensure the formula in the referenced cell doesn't have circular reference issues or other errors that might affect FORMULATEXT's ability to extract it.
- 6.Test FORMULATEXT in isolation before combining it with other functions to isolate whether errors originate from FORMULATEXT or from nested functions.
Edge Cases
FORMULATEXT referencing a cell with a formula that contains external workbook references
Behavior: FORMULATEXT returns the formula exactly as written, including the external workbook reference syntax (e.g., '[WorkbookName.xlsx]SheetName'!A1). If the external file is closed, the formula still displays but may show as broken.
Solution: Ensure external workbooks remain accessible or use IFERROR to handle display issues. Document external dependencies separately.
This is useful for identifying cross-workbook dependencies during system audits.
FORMULATEXT applied to a cell containing an array formula entered with Ctrl+Shift+Enter
Behavior: In Excel 2019 and earlier, FORMULATEXT displays the array formula with curly braces (e.g., {=SUM(A1:A10*B1:B10)}). In Excel 365 with dynamic arrays, behavior may differ as array formulas are handled differently.
Solution: Test in your specific Excel version. Use IFERROR if you need consistent behavior across versions.
Array formula handling varies significantly between Excel versions, requiring version-specific testing.
FORMULATEXT referencing a cell in a protected or hidden worksheet
Behavior: FORMULATEXT works normally with formulas in protected or hidden worksheets. The protection status doesn't affect FORMULATEXT's ability to extract the formula text.
This allows formula auditing even in protected workbooks, which is valuable for compliance and security auditing.
Limitations
- •FORMULATEXT only works with single cell references; it cannot extract formulas from ranges. Each cell in a range requires its own FORMULATEXT function.
- •The function returns #N/A for cells containing only values, not formulas, requiring error handling for robust implementations and making it unsuitable for unattended batch processing without validation.
- •FORMULATEXT is not available in Excel versions prior to 2013, Google Sheets, or LibreOffice, limiting its use in cross-platform environments and legacy systems.
- •FORMULATEXT cannot extract formulas from external workbooks that are not currently open, and it doesn't provide information about formula precedents or dependents, requiring additional tools for comprehensive formula analysis.
Alternatives
VBA/Macro Approach
Provides more flexibility and can perform complex operations on formula text, including cross-workbook formula extraction and advanced pattern matching. Allows customization beyond FORMULATEXT's capabilities.
When: When you need to extract formulas from external workbooks, perform bulk replacements, or create custom formula analysis tools that FORMULATEXT cannot handle alone.
The CELL function can identify whether a cell contains a formula (TYPE returns 2 for formulas), but it doesn't extract the formula text itself. It works as a complementary verification tool.
When: When you only need to identify which cells contain formulas rather than displaying the actual formula content. Often used in combination with FORMULATEXT for comprehensive auditing.
Returns TRUE if a cell contains a formula and FALSE if it contains only a value. Lighter-weight than FORMULATEXT and useful for conditional logic without needing the actual formula text.
When: When building conditional statements to verify formula presence before attempting to extract formula text, or when creating validation checks across large datasets.
Compatibility
✓ Excel
Since Excel 2013
=FORMULATEXT(reference)✗Google Sheets
Not available
✗LibreOffice
Not available