Using CELL function in Google Sheets for easy sorting and filtering of data

Unlock the power of the CELL function in checking, sorting, and filtering data in Google Sheets. So, how do you sort and filter data using this CELL function? Let's explore the CELL function and its practical applications in Google Sheets.

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The CELL function in Google Sheets is a powerful and versatile tool that provides users with the ability to customize and extract information from cells in a spreadsheet. With this function, you can check data types, create conditional formatting, sort and filter data easily. Explore the CELL functions to optimize and automate your workflows in Google Sheets through the following article.

What is the CELL function?

The CELL function is a way to retrieve information about the position, format, and content of a specific cell in Google Sheets. The type of information returned will depend on the value of the info_type argument. In complex tasks that require data filtering or classification, this will be an extremely useful service.

How to use the CELL function in Google Sheets

To retrieve information about a specific cell in Google Sheets, you can use the CELL function with the following formula:

=CELL(info_type, reference)

where the parameters are:

  • info_type (required): Text that identifies the type of information you want to retrieve. This can be one of the following values:

Data type to retrieve

Value obtained

“ADDRESS”

The address of the reference cell as text

“COL”

The column number of the reference cell

“COLOR”

The color format number for negative values

“CONTENTS”

The contents of the reference cell

“PREFIX”

The indentation format of the reference cell

“ROW”

The row number of the reference cell

“TYPE”

The data type within the reference cell

“WIDTH”

The width of the reference cell
  • reference (required): The cell or range of cells from which you want to retrieve information. This can be a single cell (e.g., A3) or a range of cells (e.g., A3:C4).

How to use the CELL function in Google Sheets with different data types

1. Address data type (“ADDRESS”)

Formula to enter:

=CELL(“ADDRESS”; C3)

Result: Returns the absolute address (with $ symbols) of cell C3 as text.

2. Column data type (“COL”)

Formula to enter:

=CELL(“COL”; C2)

Result: Returns the column number of the reference cell.

3. Color data type (“COLOR”)

Formula to enter:

=CELL(“COLOR”; C2)

Result: Returns a value of 1 if the reference cell is formatted in red color for negative values, otherwise returns a value of 0.

4. Contents data type (“CONTENTS”)

Formula to enter:

=CELL(“CONTENTS”; C2)

Result: Returns the contents of the reference cell.

5. Prefix data type (“PREFIX”)

Formula to enter:

=CELL(“PREFIX”; C2)

Result: Returns a text value based on the text alignment in the reference cell. The result is (‘) for left-aligned text, (‘’) for right-aligned text, and (^) for centered text.

6. Row data type (“ROW”)

Formula to enter:

=COL(“ROW”; C2)

Result: Returns the row number of the reference cell.

7. Type data type (“TYPE”)

Formula to enter:

=CELL(“TYPE”; C2)

Result: Returns a text value based on the data type in the reference cell. The result is “b” for empty cells, “l” for text data, and “v” for other data types.

8. Width data type (“WIDTH”)

Formula to enter:

=CELL(“WIDTH”; C2)

Result: Returns the width of the reference cell in the number of characters that can fit in the cell. The character width is based on the default font’s character zero (0).

How to use the CELL function in Google Sheets in combination with other functions

Thanks to the ability to classify and retrieve data types as desired, the CELL function is often used in complex formulas. Users can use the CELL function as a condition in a formula or output the desired data type for complex operations. Here is an example of using the CELL function as a condition in the IF function:

Formula to enter:

=IF(CELL(“CONTENTS”; B3) = “Passed”; D3+1; D3)

Result: If the result in the “Test” column is “Passed”, the “Final Score” will be increased by 1 compared to the “Initial Score”. Otherwise, the “Final Score” will remain the same.

Common errors when using the CELL function in Google Sheets

If your CELL function does not produce the desired result or returns an error, consider some common errors that users often encounter as follows:

1. Incorrect info_type

Users may use an incorrect or unsupported info_type, resulting in an error. Check the list of supported info_types and make sure to use the correct info_type.

2. Missing argument

If either the info_type or the reference argument is missing, the formula will return an error. Make sure to provide both arguments in the CELL function formula.


 

3. Incorrect syntax

Make sure to enter the correct syntax for the CELL function. Any spelling errors in the syntax will result in an error.

4. Misspelling the function name

If you misspell the function name, Google Sheets will also return an error. In this case, check and correct the function name used in the CELL function.

Conclusion 

The CELL function in Google Sheets is a useful tool that allows you to select and retrieve information about cells in a spreadsheet as desired. With its diverse support for info_types, you can customize the formula to extract important information such as cell addresses, row numbers, column numbers, contents, cell formatting, auto-fill, and more. However, you should also be careful to avoid common errors and always enter the correct formula to achieve efficient data processing.

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Frequently asked questions

The CELL function is a built-in function in Google Sheets that provides information about a specific cell, such as its address, content, and formatting.

The CELL function can be used in combination with other functions like SORT and FILTER to sort and filter data based on specific criteria. For example, you can use the CELL function to extract the row number of a cell, and then use that row number to sort or filter the data accordingly.

The CELL function can return three types of information: ‘address’, ‘content’, and ‘format’. ‘address’ returns the cell’s address, ‘content’ returns the cell’s value, and ‘format’ returns the cell’s number format code.

You can use the CELL function in combination with the ISBLANK function to check for blank cells. For example, you can use =ISBLANK(CELL(“content”,A2)) to check if cell A2 is blank, and then use this criteria to filter or sort your data accordingly.

Yes, the CELL function can be used in conjunction with other functions like IF, VLOOKUP, or INDEX-MATCH to dynamically reference cells based on specific conditions. This allows you to create flexible formulas that adapt to changing data.

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