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Sometimes you need to check if a cell is blank, generally because you might not want a formula to display a result without input.
In this case we’re using IF with the ISBLANK function:
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=IF(ISBLANK(D2),»Blank»,»Not Blank»)
Which says IF(D2 is blank, then return «Blank», otherwise return «Not Blank»). You could just as easily use your own formula for the «Not Blank» condition as well. In the next example we’re using «» instead of ISBLANK. The «» essentially means «nothing».
=IF(D3=»»,»Blank»,»Not Blank»)
This formula says IF(D3 is nothing, then return «Blank», otherwise «Not Blank»). Here is an example of a very common method of using «» to prevent a formula from calculating if a dependent cell is blank:
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=IF(D3=»»,»»,YourFormula())
IF(D3 is nothing, then return nothing, otherwise calculate your formula).
Need more help?
An accrual ledger should note zeroes, even if that is the hyphen displayed with an Accounting style number format. However, if you want to leave the line blank when there are no values to calculate use a formula like the following,
=IF(COUNT(F16:G16), SUM(G16, INDEX(H$1:H15, MATCH(1e99, H$1:H15)), -F16), "")
That formula is a little tricky because you seem to have provided your sample formula from somewhere down into the entries of the ledger’s item rows without showing any layout or sample data. The formula I provided should be able to be put into H16 and then copied or filled to other locations in column H but I offer no guarantees without seeing the layout.
If you post some sample data or a publicly available link to a screenshot showing your data layout more specific assistance could be offered. http://imgur.com/ is a good place to host a screenshot and it is likely that someone with more reputation will insert the image into your question for you.
The logical expression =»» means «is empty». In the example shown, column D contains a date if a task has been completed. In column E, a formula checks for blank cells in column D. If a cell is blank, the result is a status of «Open». If the cell contains value (a date in this case, but it could be any value) the formula returns «Closed».
The effect of showing «Closed» in light gray is accomplished with a conditional formatting rule.
Display nothing if cell is blank
To display nothing if a cell is blank, you can replace the «value if false» argument in the IF function with an empty string («») like this:
=IF(D5="","","Closed")
Alternative with ISBLANK
Excel contains a function made to test for blank cells called ISBLANK. To use the ISBLANK, you can revise the formula as follows:
=IF(ISBLANK(D5),"Open","Closed")
Home / Excel Formulas / Check IF 0 (Zero) Then Blank (Excel Formula)
In Excel, if you want to check a cell if the value in it is 0 (zero) and you want a formula to return blank in the result, you can use the IF function for this. In IF, you need to specify the cell from which you want to check the 0 and then specify the blank values that you want to get in the result once the condition is TRUE.
In the following example, we have a list of numbers in column A and now you need to write a condition.
- First, in cell B2, enter the IF function.
- After that, in the first argument, specify the condition to check values from cell A2 (A2=0).
- Now, in the second argument, specify a zero.
- And in the third argument, refer to cell A2 back.
- In the end, enter the closing parentheses.
Here’s the formula that you need to use to check if a cell has a zero value and changes it to a zero.
=IF(A2=0,"",A2)Now let’s try to understand how this formula works. This formula works in three parts, in the first part where we have a condition that checks if the cell has a value) or not.
Now next two-part as optional and work according to the result from the condition. If the condition is TRUE (that means the value in the cell is 0), you’ll get the blank value, and if the condition is FALSE, you will have the value from the original cell.
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In this tutorial, I explain three ways to display zeros as blanks. Download the featured file here.
Method One: Use the IF Function
Using the IF function we can return an empty text string in place of a zero result. In the example below the current stock level is calculated by subtracting the Sold value from the Stock Level value.
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Using an IF function we can use a logical test that evaluates whether the current stock level equals zero. Watch this part of the video here.
=IF(C3-D3=0,””,C3-D3)
The value if true result is an empty text string “”
=IF(C3-D3=0,“”,C3-D3)
Method Two: Use Custom Formatting
The second method uses custom formatting to display zeros as blanks. Watch this part of the video here. To apply this custom formatting:
- Select the cells that you want to apply the formatting to
- Use the keyboard shortcut CTRL 1 to open the Format Cells dialog box
- Click on the Number tab in the Format Cells dialog box, if it is not already selected
- Select Custom in the Category list
- In the Type box type the following: 0;-0;;@ To get an explanation of this syntax, please watch the video beginning here.
Method Three: Worksheet Option
This method will hide zeros across the whole worksheet. Watch this part of the video here. To use this method:
- Select the Ribbon’s File tab
- Select Options
- In the Excel Options dialog, select Advanced down the left-side
- Scroll down to the section named Display options for this worksheet
- In the drop-down next to the section name, select your worksheet
- Untick the option Show a zero in cells that have zero value
- Click on OK.