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Let's say you want to ensure that a column contains text, not numbers. Or, perhapsyou want to find all orders that correspond to a specificsalesperson. If you have no concern for upper- or lowercase text, there are several ways to check if a cell contains text.
You can also use a filter to find text. For more information, see Filter data.
Find cells that contain text
Follow these steps to locate cells containing specific text:
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Select the range of cells that you want to search.
To search the entire worksheet, click any cell.
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On the Home tab, in the Editing group, click Find & Select, and then click Find.
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In the Find what box, enter the text—or numbers—that you need to find. Or, choose a recent search from the Find what drop-down box.
Note:You can use wildcard characters in your search criteria.
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To specify a format for your search, click Format and make your selections in the Find Format popup window.
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Click Options to further define your search. For example, you can search for all of the cells that contain the same kind of data, such as formulas.
In the Within box, you can select Sheet or Workbook to search a worksheet or an entire workbook.
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Click Find All or Find Next.
Find All lists every occurrence of the item that you need to find,and allows you to make a cell active by selecting a specific occurrence. You can sort the results of a Find All search by clicking a header.
Note:To cancel a search in progress, press ESC.
Check if a cell has any text in it
To do this task, use the ISTEXT function.
Check if a cell matches specific text
Use the IF function to return results for the condition that you specify.
Check if part of a cell matches specific text
To do this task, use the IF, SEARCH, and ISNUMBER functions.
Note:The SEARCH function is case-insensitive.
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Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article about finding and working with text in Excel.
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Searching for Text in Cells: To locate cells containing specific text in Excel, follow these steps:
- Select Range: Choose the range of cells you want to search.
- Find & Select: On the Home tab, in the Editing group, click Find & Select, then click Find.
- Enter Text: In the Find what box, enter the text or numbers you're looking for.
- Wildcards: Wildcard characters can be used in search criteria for flexibility.
- Format and Options: You can specify the format and further define your search using the Format and Options features.
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Find All Functionality:
- Clicking on Find All lists every occurrence of the item, allowing you to navigate through and make specific cells active.
- Sorting results: You can sort the results of a Find All search by clicking a header.
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Canceling Search:
- To cancel a search in progress, press ESC.
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Checking if a Cell Contains Text:
- To check if a cell has any text, the ISTEXT function is recommended.
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Checking if a Cell Matches Specific Text:
- Use the IF function to return results based on specified conditions.
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Checking if Part of a Cell Matches Specific Text:
- For this task, the IF, SEARCH, and ISNUMBER functions are employed.
- Note: The SEARCH function is case-insensitive.
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Additional Help and Options:
- The article suggests using the ISTEXT function to check if a cell has any text.
- The IF function is recommended for checking if a cell matches specific text.
- For checking if part of a cell matches specific text, a combination of IF, SEARCH, and ISNUMBER functions is suggested.
For those seeking more assistance or options, the article recommends exploring the Microsoft Community, Microsoft Tech Community, Windows Insiders, and Microsoft 365 Insiders. These platforms provide opportunities to ask questions, receive feedback, and engage with experts who possess rich knowledge in using Microsoft Excel.
