isblank and istext both return false

[MadameExcel]

Dear All!

I've encountered a curiousity. A SAP download contains description within cells J to O. Both formulas, isblank and istext return "false". My goal would be to detect empty cells for deletion. All cells are formated manually as text and no value is shown when entering the cell individually by mouse.
Does anyone have an explanation for this miracle?

Cheers!

 

[Fluff]

It sounds like you have special characters, probably a non-breaking space
Use the formula on a "blank" cell, what does it return?
=CODE(A1)

 

[MadameExcel]

hey Fluff!

It works in any cell as long as I only select one, but screws, when determening for a range of cells.

 

[Fluff]

If you point that formula at a single "blank" cell what does it return?

 

[MadameExcel]

If you point that formula at a single "blank" cell what does it return?

The correct answer.

 

[Fluff]

Which is?

 

[MadameExcel]

Which is?

True. When I select multiple cells it return false, which is the wrong answer.

 

[MARK858]

MadameExcel,

=CODE(A1)

with the A1 changed to your cell reference will return a #Value error if the cell is blank or a number if it is not, it will not return TRUE.

 

[Michael M]

SAP reports seem to have this problem
To "clean" the range of cells, try doing this

Use the Find and Replace box. Click in the Find box, hold Alt key and type 0160 on the number keypad then release Alt; leave the Replace box blank, and hit Replace All.