The TEXT formula in Excel is used to format numbers and dates into text strings with a specific format. For example, let’s say you have a number “12345” and you want to add “$” in front of it to make it look like ” $12345″. You can use the TEXT formula to do that. It’s like a magic wand that helps you change the way numbers and dates look in your Excel sheet. You can also change the format of the date to show only the month, or only the day, or both the day and month together. It’s like dressing up your numbers and dates to make them look nice.
The Excel TEXT formula is a powerful tool that allows you to convert numbers into text in a specific format. The formula is particularly useful when you need to display numbers in a specific format in a spreadsheet, such as currency, date, or percentage. In this blog, we will explore the TEXT formula in depth and show you how to use it with an example.
A | B | C | |
1 | Data | Formula | Output |
2 | 123456 | =TEXT(A2, “#,###”) | 1,23,456 |
3 | 0.75 | =TEXT(A3, “0.0%”) | 75.0% |
4 | 7/15/2021 | =TEXT(A4, “MM/DD/YYYY”) | 07/15/2021 |
5 | $1000 | =TEXT(A5, “$#,##0”) | $1,000 |
6 | 1000000 | =TEXT(A6, “#,##0.00”) | 1,000,000.00 |
Formula Syntax:
The syntax of the TEXT formula is =TEXT(value, format_text).
- Value: The value that you want to convert to text. This can be a number, a cell reference, or a formula that returns a number.
- Format_text: The format you want to apply to the value. The format can be a custom format, a predefined format, or a combination of both.
Example:
Let’s say you have a number 123456 in cell A2, and you want to convert it to text with a comma separator for every three digits. To do this, you can use the following formula in cell B2: =TEXT(A2, “#,###”). The result of the formula will be 123,456.
In cell A3, you have a number 0.75, and you want to convert it to text with a percentage format. To do this, you can use the following formula in cell B3: =TEXT(A3, “0.0%”). The result of the formula will be 75.0%.
In cell A4, you have a date 7/15/2021, and you want to convert it to text in the format MM/DD/YYYY. To do this, you can use the following formula in cell B4: =TEXT(A4, “MM/DD/YYYY”). The result of the formula will be 07/15/2021.
In cell A5, you have a number 1000, and you want to convert it to text with a currency format. To do this, you can use the following formula in cell B5: =TEXT(A5, “$#,##0”). The result of the formula will be $1,000.
In cell A6, you have a number 1000000, and you want to convert it to text with two decimal places. To do this, you can use the following formula in cell B6: =TEXT(A6, “#,##0.00”). The result of the formula will be 1,000,000.00.
In conclusion, the TEXT formula in Excel is a valuable tool that allows you to convert numbers into text in a specific format. With the use of custom or predefined formats, you can control how the numbers are displayed in your spreadsheet.
Explain 3 use cases of TEXT formula in Excel.
- Formatting numbers with specific currency symbols: By using the TEXT formula, you can format a number to show a specific currency symbol. For example, you can format the number 12345 to show as “$12,345”.
- Changing date format: With the help of TEXT formula, you can change the format of the date to show only the month, only the day, or both the day and month together. For example, you can format the date “01/20/2022” to show as “Jan-2022”.
- Creating Custom Formats: The TEXT formula allows you to create custom text formats for numbers and dates. For example, you can create a custom format to show a number with a specific number of decimal places. You can also use the formula to add specific text before or after a number or date.
These are just a few examples of how you can use the TEXT formula in Excel. With this formula, you can format numbers and dates to suit your specific needs and make your Excel sheets look neat and organized.
Top mistakes users make while using TEXT formula in Excel:
- Incorrect format code: One of the most common mistakes users make while using the TEXT formula is using an incorrect format code, which can result in an error or incorrect output.
- Inconsistent use of quotes: It is important to remember to enclose the format code within quotes when using the TEXT formula. If quotes are not used, the formula will not work as expected.
- Misunderstanding the order of arguments: The order of the arguments in the TEXT formula is important, and users may accidentally switch the position of the number and format code, which can lead to incorrect output.
Mention the alternative(s) to TEXT formula in Excel:
The alternative to the TEXT formula in Excel is the CONCATENATE formula or Format cells. The CONCATENATE formula allows you to combine text from multiple cells into one cell. It can also be used to add static text to the result. The syntax is:
=CONCATENATE(text1, [text2], …)
Where text1, text2, etc. are the cells or text strings you want to combine. For example:
=CONCATENATE(“Today is “, A1, ” and the weather is “, B1)
This will combine the text “Today is “, the value in cell A1, ” and the weather is “, and the value in cell B1 into a single cell.
