How to Use GET.CELL in Excel: A Guide

2 min read 24-10-2024

The GET.CELL function in Excel is a powerful yet somewhat hidden feature that allows you to retrieve specific information about a cell’s formatting, location, and contents. While not available as a regular function in the function library, it can be accessed through named ranges. This guide will walk you through how to use GET.CELL, including examples and explanations of its parameters, enabling you to enhance your Excel skills. 🚀

What is GET.CELL?

The GET.CELL function provides information about the properties of a cell. It's part of Excel's legacy functions and returns details such as font size, cell color, row number, and more. Because it’s not straightforwardly available in the function list, it requires a bit of setup to utilize effectively.

Syntax of GET.CELL

The syntax for GET.CELL is:

GET.CELL(info_num, reference)

Parameters

info_num: A number that specifies the type of information you want to retrieve.
reference: The cell reference you want to examine.

Common Info Numbers

Here’s a table summarizing some common info_num values you can use with GET.CELL:

Info Number	Description
1	Cell's value
2	Cell's formula
3	Cell's formatted value
4	Cell's font color
5	Cell's fill color
6	Cell's font name
7	Cell's font size
8	Cell's number format
9	Cell's text alignment
10	Cell's width

Important Note: "The values of info_num can vary between different Excel versions, so be sure to verify if the desired property is supported in your version."

Step-by-Step Guide to Use GET.CELL

Step 1: Define a Named Range

Open Excel and select the cell you want to analyze.
Go to the Formulas tab on the Ribbon.
Click on Name Manager.
Click on New to create a new named range.
In the Name box, enter a name for your range (e.g., CellInfo).
In the Refers to box, enter the formula:
```
=GET.CELL(1, A1) 
```
Replace A1 with the reference to your target cell.

Step 2: Use the Named Range

In another cell, type:
```
=CellInfo
```
This will return the value of the cell you referenced in your named range.

Example Use Case

Let’s say you want to get the font color of cell B2. Here’s how you can do it:

Define a named range using GET.CELL:
```
=GET.CELL(4, B2) 
```
This retrieves the font color of cell B2.
In any other cell, type:
```
=FontColorInfo
```
This will show the color index of the font in cell B2.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you encounter issues while using GET.CELL, here are some potential problems to consider:

Cell not updating: Remember that GET.CELL does not automatically update when the referenced cell changes. You may need to press F9 to refresh calculations.
Not available in certain versions: If you find that GET.CELL is not working, check whether it is supported in your version of Excel.

Conclusion

The GET.CELL function can be an invaluable tool for advanced Excel users looking to extract specific details from their spreadsheets. By learning how to define named ranges and utilize this function, you can significantly enhance your Excel capabilities. 🧑‍💻🔍