Using ISBLANK() with ACTIVE.CELL()

 Last reviewed: November 2, 1994
Article ID: Q60546
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0
  • Microsoft Excel for OS/2 versions 2.2, 2.21, and 3.0

SYMPTOMS

The formula =ISBLANK(ACTIVE.CELL()) returns the TRUE or FALSE logical value, depending on whether the active cell contains an entry. However, if ISBLANK(reference) refers to a cell that contains ACTIVE.CELL(), ISBLANK() will always be FALSE. The following example always returns the FALSE and is entered in cells A1 and A2:

A1: =ACTIVE.CELL() A2: =ISBLANK(A1)

CAUSE

This example does not work because ACTIVE.CELL() is a reference to the active cell that returns the contents of the active cell. Even though the active cell may be blank, a reference to a blank cell always returns a zero value and is, therefore, not blank.

NOTE: This does not occur in later versions of Microsoft Excel for Windows.

KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 2.00 2.0 2.10 2.1 3.00 3.00 2.20 2.21 4.0
4.00

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Last reviewed: November 2, 1994
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