Return formula reference and text instead of values...?

**EvoLancer** · 06-17-2014, 12:43 PM

Hello,

Is there a way for excel to return the formula of a cell with the text contents of cell references within the formula?

Let me clarify with an example:
0 A B C D
1 1 2
2

Formula: =A1+B1

What I would like to see returned is 1+2

Is this possible? Thanks in advance!

**Ron Coderre** · 06-17-2014, 12:54 PM

Not out the box...but, maybe using VBA. (It would probably be complicated, though, depending on the formula(s) you'd need to parse)

**Sam Capricci** · 06-17-2014, 12:57 PM

maybe =A1&"+"&B1 would work?

**TMS** · 06-17-2014, 12:57 PM

To serve what purpose? Have you looked at Evaluate Formula? It's on the Formula's Ribbon and allows you to step through the calculation of the formula.

Other than that, NTIAAO

Regards, TMS

**MrShorty** · 06-17-2014, 12:58 PM

If what you are trying to return is the text string "1+2", you could use the concatenate function: =concatenate(A1,"+",B1) ) (or the concatenate operator &: =A1 & "+" & B1. As Ron suggests, though, this will become rather complicated for larger formulas.