setting a cell to 'empty' or blank or null ?

[KRK]

Hello,

I have a cell which ontains an IF function. I want the cell to remain empty
unless the IF returns a certain value. I know how to use IF, but how do I
make a cell 'empty' ?

Thanks

K

 

[Mike H]

I'm not sure I fully understand but does this point you in the correct
direction?

=IF(A1=1,"",A1)

This will return the contents of A1 if it doesn't equal 1 but the cell isn't
empty, it contains a Null string

Mike

 

[KRK]

Hello

Thanks yes this works, is the null string the same as blank and empty ?

K

 

[Mike H]

I'm glad that helped, thanks for the feedback.

Empty is just that when referring to a cell i.e it contains nothing,

A formula that returns nothing as in the example I gave you by definition
isn't empty and correctly is referred to a Null string i.e a string that has
no length.

Blank is a term i prefer not to use for cells because FWIW in my view it
adds nothing to either of the definitions noted above and frequently leads to
confusion.


Mike

 

[Gord Dibben]

No.

You have a formula nin the cell so cannot be blank.

The "" just makes the cell look blank.

You can test by entering this formula in a cell next to it.

=ISBLANK(cellref) will return false.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[T. Valko]

and frequently leads to confusion.

Amen, brother!

 

[RagDyer]

I love to bring this up whenever I come across this type of discussion.

In A1 enter:
=""

In B1 enter:
=Isblank(A1)

In C1 enter:
=Countblank(A1)

Confusing ... to say the least.

We are now talking about the consistency of the Redmond programmers!<bg>

 

[Gord Dibben]

At least you are forewarned about this anomaly in help on countblank.

COUNTBLANK(range)

Range is the range from which you want to count the blank cells.

Cells with formulas that return "" (empty text) are also counted.


Gord