Documentation/Calc Functions/TYPE
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Function name:
TYPE
Category:
Information
Summary:
Returns a numeric value indicating the type of the supplied argument.
Syntax:
TYPE(Value)
Returns:
Returns a number in accordance with the following table:
Argument type | Value returned |
---|---|
Number | 1 |
Text | 2 |
Logical / Boolean | 4 |
Formula | 8 |
Error | 16 |
Array | 64 |
Arguments:
Value is an expression, or a reference to a cell containing that expression, whose type is determined.
- If the argument is a reference to a cell that contains both an error and a formula, the value 16 is returned.
- If the argument is a reference to an empty cell, the value 1 is returned.
Additional details:
- Calc returns the value
8
to indicate a formula cell. This value is not mandated in the function's description in ODF 1.2 and is not used by Microsoft Excel, which returns the type of the formula's returned value. - According to Microsoft's web page for the TYPE function, a return value of 128 is possible in Excel (for "compound data"), which is not mandated in the function's description in ODF 1.2.
- Boolean/logical values are considered as numbers in Calc, whereas in Excel they have their own category.
- As a result of these different behaviors, care should be taken if interoperability between Calc and Excel is important for your spreadsheet.
Examples:
Formula | Description | Returns |
---|---|---|
=TYPE(12.34) | Value is a number. | 1 |
=TYPE(B1)
where cell B1 contains the number 12.34. |
The referenced cell contains a number. | 1 |
=TYPE("Well done is better than well said") | Value is text. | 2 |
=TYPE(B2)
where cell B2 contains the string " |
The referenced cell contains text. | 2 |
=TYPE(B3)
where cell B3 contains the logical value TRUE. |
The referenced cell contains a logical value. | 4 |
=TYPE(TRUE()) | The value is equivalent to a number. | 1 |
=TYPE(FALSE)
when the English (USA) locale is selected. |
The value is equivalent to a number. | 1 |
=TYPE(B4)
where cell B4 contains the formula |
The referenced cell contains a formula. | 8 |
=TYPE(B5)
where cell B5 contains the formula |
The referenced cell contains an error. An "Invalid argument" error was found (Err:502). |
16 |
=TYPE(B6)
where cell B6 contains either the formula |
The referenced cell contains an error. | 16 |
=TYPE({3; 5; 7}) | The argument is an array. | 64 |
{ =TYPE(D1:D2) }
entered as an array formula in cells B7:B8. |
Both cells B7 and B8 display the result, whatever the contents of cells D1 and D2. | 64 |
Related LibreOffice functions:
ODF standard:
Related (or similar) Excel functions:
TYPE