Logical
Choosing a word from a text test
Definition
Choosing a word from a text test means writing an IF formula that compares a label and returns one of two words.
Syntax
=IF(logical_test, value_if_true, value_if_false)
Arguments
| Argument | Meaning |
|---|---|
logical_test |
The text comparison, such as B2="idle". |
value_if_true |
The word to show when the test is true. Wrap it in double quotes. |
value_if_false |
The word to show when the test is false. Wrap it in double quotes. |
Worked example
A gate sheet stores a status word in B2 and should show yes only when that word is idle.
| A: Gate | B: Status |
|---|---|
| North | busy |
| East | idle |
| West | busy |
Formula: =IF(B2="idle","yes","no")
Result: no. busy is not idle, so the false word is shown.
Practice
Cell A2 holds open. In B2, write a formula that shows yes when A2 is open, and no otherwise.
- In B2, write an IF formula that shows yes when A2 is open, and no otherwise.
- B2 should show the result for open.
Step 1 of 2
Enter =IF(A2="open","yes","no") in B2.
A2 is open, so the result is yes.
Formulas here use English function names, such as SUM, and a period as the decimal separator, in every language.
Loading the sheet…
B2 uses IF.
B2 now shows yes.
Related functions
IF is the function that returns one of those two words from the text test.
Common mistake
Leaving the quotes off the test word, as in =IF(B2=idle,"yes","no"): idle is then read as a name, and the formula returns #NAME? instead of no.