Excel: Creating Criteria to Find Numbers or Text in Field

Last reviewed: October 31, 1994
Article ID: Q24666

SUMMARY

To extract records from a Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh version 1.0. 1.03, 1.04, 1.06, 1.5, 2.2, or 3.0 database based on whether a field in the record contains a number or text, use a computed criteria with the TYPE function.

For example, to find all records that contain a number in the "CODE" field of the following database, a computed criteria has been created in E1:E2:

   +---+-----------+----------+---+-------------+
   |   |     A     |     B    | D |      E      |
   +---+-----------+----------+---+-------------+
   | 1 | NAME      | CODE     |   |             |
   +---+-----------+----------+---+-------------+
   | 2 | Sam       |      156 |   | =TYPE(B2)=1 |
   +---+-----------+----------+---+-------------+
   | 3 | Nancy     |   34a-12 |   |             |
   +---+-----------+----------+---+-------------+
   | 4 | Fred      |    10021 |   |             |
   +---+-----------+----------+---+-------------+
   | 5 | Carol     |    7b-15 |   |             |
   +---+-----------+----------+---+-------------+

To find all records that contain a text string in the "CODE" field of the database, you must enter the formula =TYPE(B2)=2 in cell E2 of the computed criteria.

To define the criteria range, select cells E1:E2 and choose Set Criteria from the Data menu.

MORE INFORMATION

When creating a computed criteria, you must observe the following rules:

  1. The field name of the computed criteria must be different from any of the field names in the database. In the above example, E1 is left blank.

  2. You must use a relative reference to the first record in the field of the database you want to reference in the formula. For example, B2 is a relative reference to the first record in the "CODE" field in the formula =TYPE(B2)=1.

For more information on the TYPE function, see page 240 of the "Microsoft Excel Function Reference" version 3.0 manual. If you are using Excel 2.2, see page 88 of the "Microsoft Excel Functions and Macros" version 2.2 manual.

Note: This information also applies to Microsoft Excel for Windows versions 2.1, 2.1c, and 3.0, and to Microsoft Excel for OS/2 versions 2.2, 2.21, and 3.0.


KBCategory: kbother
KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 2.10 2.10c 3.00


THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: October 31, 1994
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.