In a Google Docs spreadsheet, I'm looking for something like =EVAL(A1) where A1 is set to "=1+2".
I found out that in MS Excel there is an EVALUATE() function (which seems a bit tricky to use properly). But I could not find anything similar in Google Docs.
I also searched through the function list, but could not find anything helpful...
No, there's no equivalent to Excel's EVALUATE() in Google Sheets.
There's long history behind this one, see this old post for instance.
If you're just interested in simple math (as shown in your question), that can be done easily with a custom function.
function doMath( formula ) {
// Strip leading "=" if there
if (formula.charAt(0) === '=') formula = formula.substring(1);
return eval(formula)
}
For example, with your A1, put =doMath(A1) in another cell, and it will be 3.
I know this an old post. I'm just wondering, why nobody suggested:
myCell.getValue();
This will give you the result of the formula in myCell (3 in your example).
If you want to write the result to the cell (instead of the formula), you could use:
function fixFormula(myCell) {
myCell.setValue(myCell.getValue());
}
Short answer
As was mentioned previously, Google Sheets doesn't have a built-in EVALUATE function, but Google Sheets could be extended to add this function. Fortunately some SocialCalc files could be used to make this easier.
Script
On Google spreadsheet I'm sharing my progress. At this time I added the SocialCalc files that I think that are required and a couple of functions, and several test cases.
NOTES:
Google Sheets specific functions like FILTER, UNIQUE, among others are not available in SocialCalc as well as other functions like SIGN.
I think that the SocialCalc file should be replaced by those on https://github.com/marcelklehr/socialcalc as it looks to be updated recently. H/T to eddyparkinson (see https://stackoverflow.com/a/16329364/1595451)
Uses
The EVALUATE function on the linked file could be used as a custom function.
Example 1
A1: '=1+2 (please note the use of an apostrophe to make the formula be treated by Google Sheets as a string.
B1 formula:
=EVALUATE(A1)
B1 display value:
3
Example 2
To "EVALUATE" a formula like =VLOOKUP(2,A1:B3,2), at this time we need to use the "advanced" parameters. See the following example:
B1: '=VLOOKUP(2,A1:B3,2)
C1 formula:
=EVALUATE(B1,"data","A1:B3")
C1 display value:
B
Code.gs
/**
*
* Evaluates a string formula
*
* #param {"=1+1"} formula Formula string
* #param {"Tests"} sheetName Target sheet.
* #param {"A1"} coord Target cell.
*
* #customfunction
*
*/
function EVALUATE(formula,sheetName,coord){
// SocialCalc Sheet object
var scSheet = new SocialCalc.Sheet();
if(sheetName && coord){
// Pass values from a Google sheet to a SocialCalc sheet
GS_TO_SC(scSheet,coord,sheetName);
}
var parseinfo = SocialCalc.Formula.ParseFormulaIntoTokens(formula.substring(1));
var value = SocialCalc.Formula.evaluate_parsed_formula(parseinfo,scSheet,1); // parse formula, allowing range return
if(value.type != 'e'){
return value.value;
} else {
return value.error;
}
}
/**
*
* Pass the Google spreadsheet values of the specified range
* to a SocialCalc sheet
*
* See Cell Class on socialcalc-3 for details
*
*/
function GS_TO_SC(scSheet,coord,sheetName){
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
if(sheetName){
var sheet = ss.getSheetByName(sheetName);
var range = sheet.getRange(coord);
} else {
var range = ss.getRange(coord);
}
var rows = range.getNumRows();
var columns = range.getNumColumns();
var cell,A1Notation,dtype,value,vtype;
// Double loop to pass cells in range to SocialCalc sheet
for(var row = 1; row <= rows; row++){
for(var column = 1; column <= columns; column++){
cell = range.getCell(row,column);
A1Notation = cell.getA1Notation();
value = cell.getValue();
if(cell.isBlank()){
dtype = 'b';
vtype = 'b';
} else {
switch(typeof value){
case 'string':
dtype = 't';
vtype = 't';
break;
case 'date':
case 'number':
dtype = 'v'
vtype = 'n';
break;
}
}
scSheet.cells[A1Notation] = {
datavalue: value,
datatype: dtype,
valuetype: vtype
}
}
}
}
formula1.gs
https://github.com/DanBricklin/socialcalc/blob/master/formula1.js
socialcalcconstants.gs
https://github.com/DanBricklin/socialcalc/blob/master/socialcalcconstants.js
socialcalc-3.gs
https://github.com/DanBricklin/socialcalc/blob/master/socialcalc-3.js
If you want to evaluate simple math(like A1: "(1+2)*9/3"), you can use query:
=query(,"Select "&A1&" label "&A1&" ''",0)
Basic math sent to query's select is evaluated by query.
Copy and paste the formulas:
Maybe you can copy and paste the formulas you need from "jQuery.sheet". Moved to:
https://github.com/Spreadsheets/WickedGrid
Looks to be all "open source"
Wont fix the issue
Also: The issue "Enable scripts to use standard spreadsheet functions" is marked as "Wont fix", see https://code.google.com/p/google-apps-script-issues/issues/detail?id=26
Ethercalc
there is a google like opensource spreadsheet called Ethercalc
GUI Code:
https://github.com/audreyt/ethercalc
Formulas: https://github.com/marcelklehr/socialcalc
Demo - on sandstorm:
https://apps.sandstorm.io/app/a0n6hwm32zjsrzes8gnjg734dh6jwt7x83xdgytspe761pe2asw0
In the case of evaluating a function like
"=GoogleFinance("usdeur","price",date(2013,12,1),date(2013,12,16))"
This can be done this without evaluate by directly referring to other cells like this:
=GoogleFinance(A10,"price",E3,E6)
Simple hack to evaluate formulas in google spreadsheet:
select cells or columns with formulas
go Edit -> Find and replace...
check "Also search in formulas"
replace "=" to "=="
replace back "==" to "="
in the same "Find and replace" window uncheck "Also search in formulas"
formulas will evaluate! :)
Thank you for user3626588's workaround here and it does indeed work. Based off your instructions it looks like it can be simplified even further.
In Cell B1 Enter the following:="=sum(A1:A5)"
In Cell C1 Set a data validation and select B1 with dropdown option.
Now select C1 and select the formula from the dropdown, it will sum any values between A1 through A5 automatically.
I have a sheet where I was creating a complicated formula for multiple values and this process worked!
Thank you once again as I was trying to avoid a script since I have data that is being pulled by another program on my worksheet. Script function do not always run automatically in those situations.
Here is the trick. Insert formula in the required cell, then get retrieve that cell value and replace the already inserted formula with this new value.
function calculateFormula(row, col){
var spreadsheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActive();
var sheet = spreadsheet.getSheetByName("Sheet Name");
sheet.getRange(row,col).setValue("=sum(D6,C12:C14)");
sheetData = sheet.getDataRange().getValues();
var newValue = sheetData[row-1][col-1];
sheet.getRange(row,col).setValue(newValue);
}
How about just converting a column of expressions which are not preceded by a "+"?
92/120
67/85
etc.
It's a bit of a hack, but this works
get the formula from the cell;
set the formula back again; then
get the value from the cell.
var cell = sheet.getRange("A1");
var formula = cell.getFormula();
cell.setFormula(formula);
var fileCell = cell.getValue();
Awesome work around for google not having evaluate(). I have looked all around and besides script have found no other way to have a formula as a string on one sheet then use that formula on another. In fact everything I've seen says you can't. Would be helpfull if anyone reading this could repost around if they come to an appropriate question since I must have read a half dozen posts saying it wasn't possible before I just rolled up my sleaves and done done it. :) It still has a little clunkyness since you need two cells in the spreadsheet you want the formula to execute, but here goes.
Ok, some set up. We'll call the spreadsheet with the formula as string SpreadsheetA, call the tab the formula is on TabAA, the Spreadsheet you want to call and execute said formula SpreadsheetB. I'll use a multi-tab example, so say you want the sum of A1:A5 on SpreadsheetB tab: TabBA to be calculated on SpreadsheetB tab: TabBB cell A1. Also call the URL of spreadsheet A: URLA
So, in Spreadsheet A Tab: TabAA cell A1 put ="=sum(TabBB!A1:A5)", therefore the cell will display: =sum(A1:A5). Note: you don't need any $ in formula. Then in Spreadsheet B, Tab: TabBB, cell A2 put: =Query(Importrange("URLA","TabAA!A1"),"select Col1 where Col1 <> ''"). That cell will now display =sum(TabBA!A1:A5). Next to that, cell A1 of Spreadsheet B tab: TabBB, create a dropdown of the cell with the formula in B2 (right click cell A1, select data validation, for Criteria select: List from range, enter B2 in box to right). That cell should now be summing SpreadsheetB, TabBA, range A1:A5
Hope that was clear, I'm rather novice at this. Also important, obviously you would only do this in cases where you wanted to choose from multiple formulas on spreadsheetA, instead of TabAA!A1 say you had another formula in A2 also so your query would be =Query(Importrange("URLA","TabAA!A1:A2"). I understand in the simplistic case given you would simply put the formula where you needed the sum.
Edit: Something I noticed, was when I wanted to use a formula with double quotes the above scenario didn't work because when you wrapped the formula with double quotes in double quotes you get an error since you need single quotes inside double quotes. The example I was trying: if(counta(iferror(query(B15:C,"select C where C = 'Rapid Shot' and B = true")))>0,Core!$C$18+$C$10&" / ",)&Core!$C$18+$C$10&if(Core!$C$18>5," / "&Core!$C$18-5+$C$10,)&if(Core!$C$18>10," / "&Core!$C$18-10+$C$10,)&if(Core!$C$18>15," / "&Core!$C$18-15+$C$10,)
In that case I put another formula into Spreadsheet A TabAA cell A2 that read ="="&A1. Then, ajusted the importrange referance in spreadsheet B to reference that cell instead.
BTW, this absolutly works so if you can't get it let me know where your having problems, I don't do a lot of colaboration so maybe I'm not saying something clear or using the right / best terminollagy but again I've seen many posts saying this was impossible and no one saying they had found another way.
Thanx ~ K to the D zizzle.
Here is the working trick to evaluate the concatenated formula string. Use the formula cell as a data validation source for the target cell. Maybe it is not a fully automated solution. But evaluating refreshed formulas has been stripped down to just one click. You just need to reselect the value from the validation box when it is necessary. Many thanks to #Aurielle Perlmann and #user3626588 for the idea.
As an example, when you have set up dynamic multiple concatenations of such below formula in another sheet, this will work well with selecting validation option.
In my case, pressing enter twice is not userfriendly.
=({FILTER(IMPORTRANGE("https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa/edit"; "EXPENSES!A2:P"); INDEX(IMPORTRANGE("https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa/edit"; "EXPENSES!A2:P"); 0; 1) <> ""); FILTER(IMPORTRANGE("https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb/edit"; "EXPENSES!A2:P"); INDEX(IMPORTRANGE("https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb/edit"; "EXPENSES!A2:P"); 0; 1) <> ""); FILTER(IMPORTRANGE("https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc/edit"; "EXPENSES!A2:P"); INDEX(IMPORTRANGE("https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc/edit"; "EXPENSES!A2:P"); 0; 1) <> "")})
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I am stuck...
I have a 100 Row sheet with 10 Columns. This list is broken into classes simply by inline headers. I have definitions of the blocks of data under each head, for example:
UNASSOCIATED A2 A19
HOSTS A21 A32
ROOF A34 A100
I compute those ranges as they may change from time to time. I need
first: Define Name of each group by formula
Second: From time to time select the defined group
I am unable to get a formula to work which will allow me to use the "Content" of the cell as opposed to the cell location to define these ranges.
I'm stuck.
Suggestions would be appreciated.
Regards,
RHD
This cannot be done in a cell formula. You'll need to create a macro (VBA) to do this. Essentially, what you need is to grab the value of a cell then use that value as if it were a cell address.
Take a look at the example macro below. If cell A1 contains the characters "B22", then x will become the value of A1 (which is "B22") and "test" will be written to cell B22. This cannot be done in with cell formulas.
Sub test()
Dim x As String
x = Range("A1").Value
Range(x).Value = "test"
End Sub
A good amount of adaptation will been needed to incorporate this technique, and you'll need to play with this a bit. Ping this community to help answer more specific questions as they come up.
What formula do you use to check if another cell has formula? For example, I have 2 columns, A has cells which contains either a formula or a value.
(Column A usually contains Formulas but other users try to change their values by directly typing and replacing the formula that was previously there)
In Column B I want to add a formula that will say "HasFormula" if the cell on Column A has formula and say "PlainValue" if it contains a value.
I'm thinking maybe using =ISNUMBER() but that may not be accurate.
I am using Excel 2010.
Excel actually has a builtin ISFORMULA() function.
Say A1 has a formula and you want to check that. In say B1, you can use:
=If(ISFORMULA(A1),"HasFormula","PlainValue")
Edit: Per your comment, you don't have ISFORMULA(). An alternative is to create a quick UDF, and use the custom function in the worksheet.
In a workbook module, put this code:
Function isFormula(ByVal target As Range) As Boolean
isFormula = target.hasFormula
End Function
Then you can call it like this: =isFormula(A1) and it will return TRUE if A1 has a formula.
If you can't use VBA, then you can use this formula:
=IF(ISERROR(FORMULATEXT(A1)),"PlainText","HasFormula")
The MrExcel website (link below) has this method which uses old code from Excel 4 (which is still present for backward compatibility)...
Define a NAME such as "CellToLeftHasFormula" and in the "refers to" box put
=GET.CELL(48,OFFSET(INDIRECT("RC",FALSE),0,-1))
Then in column B use the formula =CellToLeftHasFormula which will return TRUE if it has.
Be aware that this will mean your Excel will now contain a macro and so will need to be saved as such (xlsm). I use this in Excel 2010.
For full explanation (and other .CELL options, besides 48) see MrExcel link: https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/excel-questions/20611-info-only-get-cell-arguments.html
You can use the Range.HasFormula property.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/vba/api/excel.range.hasformula
EDIT:
Text and code from the above link:
"True if all cells in the range contain formulas; False if none of the cells in the range contains a formula; null otherwise. Read-only Variant. ..."
Worksheets("Sheet1").Activate
Set rr = Application.InputBox( _
prompt:="Select a range on this worksheet", _
Type:=8)
If rr.HasFormula = True Then
MsgBox "Every cell in the selection contains a formula"
End If
You can restrict the user by protecting the column A.
You can directly check if a cell contains a formula by using a shortcut Ctrl + `.
You can use vba and write a user defined function :
1. Press alt + F11
2. Insert module in workbook
3. Paste this code
Function IsFormula(cell_ref As Range)
IsFormula = cell_ref.HasFormula
End Function
4. Now, use Isformula in the cell wherever you want.
Lets say
sheet3.name = "d"
Is there a way I could put in a cell on sheet2 the formula =sum(sheet3!b:b) where sheet3 is being substituted with the actual sheet3 name?
I can only get =sum('d'!b:b) to work so far.
I could use VBA for this probably but I'm curious how to do this in a cell so I don't have to run a macro each time.
If you can use a UDF User Defined Function that will return the sheet name
Function SHEETNAME(number As Long) As String
SHEETNAME = Sheets(number).Name
End Function
then a formula like
=SUM(INDIRECT(SHEETNAME(3) &"!B:B"))
will return the sum from column B on sheet 3.
SHEETNAME(number) returns the sheet name of the number which is index.
So Sheet(1) returns Sheet1, etc
Use below formula anywhere in the sheet to get the sheet name - the sheet must have a filename for this to work:
=REPLACE(CELL("filename"),1,FIND("]",CELL("filename")),"")
You can either reference that cell using Indirect:
=SUM(Indirect("'"&A1&"'!B:B"))
or, if you don't want to have a second cell, you can combine the two formulas into one:
=SUM(INDIRECT("'"&REPLACE(CELL("filename"),1,FIND("]",CELL("filename")),"")&"'!B:B"))
For anyone not concerned with the order of the sheets, the post by Biff here on mrexcel.com works well.
In Excel 2013, go to the Formulas tab in the ribbon and make a defined name:
Name: SheetNames
Refers to: =GET.WORKBOOK(1)&T(NOW())
Then use a formula like this example:
=INDIRECT("'"&INDEX(MID(SheetNames,FIND("]",SheetNames)+1,255),A3)&"'!A1")
where A3 refers to the index number in a cell in the current sheet, and A1 refers to the location of the value to be retrieved from the other sheet. I.e., in the current sheet, if A3 = 2, then the formula will point to cell A1 in the second sheet of the workbook. I just use a column of index numbers in my current sheet, then drag this formula down and it fills in values from all of my other sheets.
You will need to save as a macro-enabled file (.xlsm).
I'm not sure if this is a good idea but it's the first one I could think of.
I would add additional function to your VBA project which will return actual name of your Sheet3:
Function Sheet3Name()
Sheet3Name = Sheet3.Name
End Function
Next, when you create sum formula of column B:B in Excel cell you need to do it in this way:
=SUM(INDIRECT(Sheet3Name()&"!A:A"))
I have two cells in Excel. one has a string and the other one has a date. in the third cell I want to put the date and the string together. For example:
A1 = "This "
A2 = "03/03/1982"
I want A3 to be:
This 03/03/1982
when I try to put this in the A3 formula: = A1 & A2 it returns some funny numerical value for the date and does not give me the literal date.
Don't know if it's the best way but I'd do this:
=A1 & TEXT(A2,"mm/dd/yyyy")
That should format your date into your desired string.
Edit: That funny number you saw is the number of days between December 31st 1899 and your date. That's how Excel stores dates.
This is the numerical representation of the date. The thing you get when referring to dates from formulas like that.
You'll have to do:
= A1 & TEXT(A2, "mm/dd/yyyy")
The biggest problem here is that the format specifier is locale-dependent. It will not work/produce not what expected if the file is opened with a differently localized Excel.
Now, you could have a user-defined function:
public function AsDisplayed(byval c as range) as string
AsDisplayed = c.Text
end function
and then
= A1 & AsDisplayed(A2)
But then there's a bug (feature?) in Excel because of which the .Text property is suddenly not available during certain stages of the computation cycle, and your formulas display #VALUE instead of what they should.
That is, it's bad either way.
Another approach
=CONCATENATE("Age as of ", TEXT(TODAY(),"dd-mmm-yyyy"))
This will return
Age as of 06-Aug-2013
Thanks for the solution !
It works, but in a french Excel environment, you should apply something like
TEXTE(F2;"jj/mm/aaaa")
to get the date preserved as it is displayed in F2 cell, after concatenation.
Best Regards
You can do it this simple way :
A1 = Mahi
A2 = NULL(blank)
Select A2 Right click on cell --> Format cells --> change to TEXT
Then put the date in A2 (A2 =31/07/1990)
Then concatenate it will work. No need of any formulae.
=CONCATENATE(A1,A2)
mahi31/07/1990
(This works on the empty cells ie.,Before entering the DATE value to cell you need to make it as TEXT).
I found that for this situation, the simplest solution is to define a Custom number format for the cell containing the date. The format in this case should be:
"This:" mm/dd/yyyy
To set this format:
Right click on the cell
Select Format Cell
Select Number tab (should be displayed by default)
Pick Custom from the Category list
Specify the format in the "Type" field
Press OK
Note: If you really want the preceding text to be picked from a cell, this solution will not work as described.