How to Use FORMULATEXT Function in Excel (Video in Khmer)

Hello everyone! Today I show you very easy step-by-step how to use FORMULATEXT() function in Microsoft Excel.

Sometimes when you work in Excel, you want to show other people the exact formula inside a cell without clicking double-click on it. FORMULATEXT function helps you convert formula into plain text string so you can print, audit, or teach formulas very easily!

📚 Related Tutorial: Learn more foundational formulas in our guide on Top 15 Basic Excel Formulas for Beginners ↗!

🛠️ What is FORMULATEXT Function?

The FORMULATEXT function looks at a cell and returns its formula as a text string (starting with =).

Formula Syntax:

=FORMULATEXT(reference)

• reference: The target cell containing the formula you want to display.

🛠️ Simple Step-by-Step Example

Suppose cell B2 contains a formula =SUM(A1:A10) and displays result 500.

If you type in cell C2:

=FORMULATEXT(B2)

• Result: =SUM(A1:A10)

Now you can see the exact formula written in cell B2 directly on your screen!

⚠️ Important Things to Know (#N/A Error)

If FORMULATEXT returns #N/A error, check these 3 reasons:

1. Target cell has no formula: If cell B2 has only a number or text like 100 (not a formula starting with =), FORMULATEXT returns #N/A.
2. Formula is hidden: If sheet is protected and formula is hidden, FORMULATEXT will return #N/A.
3. Invalid cell reference: If you select a whole range like A1:A10, make sure you use Excel 2013 or newer!

💡 Easy Pro Tips for FORMULATEXT

1. Show Formulas Across Entire Sheet Quickly: You don't need FORMULATEXT for every cell if you just want to check formulas quickly. Press Ctrl + ~ (Control + Tilde) to toggle all formulas visible across your whole Excel sheet!
2. Combine with IFNA for Clean Display: Prevent #N/A errors when pointing to normal text cells:

   =IFNA(FORMULATEXT(B2), "No formula")
   

3. Great for Documentation: Use FORMULATEXT next to your calculation cells to create automatic documentation for your Excel reports or student assignments!