LEN = 0; ISBLANK = FALSE

[Dave F]

LEN(C20) = 0
ISBLANK(C20) = FALSE

How could this be?

This would seem a contradiction in terms.

 

[akphidelt]

Did you import that data or something?

Usually this is caused by a ' indicating that it is supposed to be text. In
this case if there is a ' in it but no data you will get what you received.

Try copying a cell from a blank workbook and pasting it in to C20 to see if
you get a different result.

 

[Dave Peterson]

Put a single apostrophe in C20.

Saved from a previous post:

If you want to see what's left in that cell after you convert ="" to values,
try:
Tools|Options|Transition Tab|Toggle Transition Navigation keys on.

Then select one of those cells and look at the formula bar. You'll see an
apostrophe. (Don't forget to toggle the setting to off.)

When I want to clean up this detritus, I do this:

Select the range (ctrl-a a few times to select all the cells)
Edit|Replace
what: (leave blank)
with: $$$$$
replace all

Immediately followed by:
Edit|Replace
what: $$$$$
with: (leave blank)
replace all

 

[akphidelt]

oh yea do you have a formula in C20? That can cause some problems also.

 

[Gary''s Student]

If C20 contains:
=""
then the length is zero. ISBLANK is FALSE because TRUE is only for truely
empty cells.

In fact, you have found a way to distinguish an empty cell from a cell with
a formula returning ""

 

[David Biddulph]

An empty string ="" has a length of zero, but the cell is not blank.

 

[Dave F]

C20 doesn't contain ="" though.

The data is downloaded from a database. Perhaps there is some hidden
character in the cell. When I place the curso in the formula bar and
hit backspace then ISBLANK returns TRUE.