ISBLANK
What Does It Do?
This function will determine if there is an entry in a particular cell. It can be used when a spreadsheet has blank cells which may cause errors, but which will be filled later as the data is received by the user. Usually the function is used in conjunction with the =IF() function which can test the result of the =ISBLANK()
Syntax
=ISBLANK(CellToTest)
Formatting
Used by itself the result will be shown as TRUE or FALSE.
| Data | Is The Cell Blank | |
| 1 | FALSE | =ISBLANK(C4) |
| Hello | FALSE | =ISBLANK(C5) |
| TRUE | =ISBLANK(C6) | |
| ####### | FALSE | =ISBLANK(C7) |
Example:
The following example shows a list of cheques received by a company. When the cheque is cleared the date is entered.
Until the Cleared date is entered the Cleared column is blank. While the Cleared column is blank the cheque will still be Outstanding. When the Cleared date is entered the cheque will be shown as Banked. The =ISBLANK() function is used to determine whether the Cleared column is empty or not.
| Chq. Recvd. |
Date | Date | ||||
| Num | From | Recvd. | Amt | Cleared | Banked | Outst- anding |
| chq1 | ABC Ltd | 1-Jan -98 |
£100 | 2-Jan-98 | 100 | 0 |
| chq2 | CJ Design | 1-Jan -98 |
£200 | 7-Jan-98 | 200 | 0 |
| chq3 | J Smith | 2-Jan -98 |
£50 | 0 | 50 | |
| chq4 | Travel Co. | 3-Jan -98 |
£1,000 | 0 | 1000 | |
| chq5 | J Smith | 4-Jan -98 |
£250 | 6-Jan-98 | 250 | 0 |
| =IF (IS BLANK (F36), 0, E36) |
||||||
| =IF (IS BLANK (F36), E36,0) |
| Totals | 550 | 1050 |