CELL formula in Excel with examples

The CELL function in Excel provides valuable information about cell properties, formatting, and content. Let’s explore its syntax and some practical examples:

1. Syntax:

   • The CELL function has the following structure:

     =CELL(info_type, [reference])
     

   • info_type (required): Specifies the type of information to retrieve about the cell.
   • reference (optional): Refers to the cell for which you want information. If omitted, it defaults to the last changed cell on the sheet.

2. Common info_type values:

   • "address": Returns the cell address as text (e.g., “$A$1”).
   • "col": Provides the column number of the cell.
   • "contents": Retrieves the cell’s value (including calculated results for formulas).
   • "filename": Gives the full path and filename of the workbook containing the cell.
   • "format": Corresponds to the cell’s number format (see format codes).
   • "protect": Indicates whether the cell is locked (1 for locked, 0 for unlocked).

3. Examples:

   • To get the column number for cell C10:

     =CELL("col", C10)   // Result: 3
     

   • To obtain the address of cell A1 as text:

     =CELL("address", A1)   // Result: "$A$1"
     

   • To retrieve the full path and workbook name for the current worksheet:

     =CELL("filename", A1)   // Example: "C:\MyDocs\Budget.xlsx"
     

Remember, the CELL function empowers you to extract essential details about your Excel data!