FORMULATEXT
Supported, behaves as documentedCategory: Lookup and reference · Last tested 2026-08-06
Real, executed compatibility results for the FORMULATEXT function across Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, and LibreOffice Calc — verified by actually running it. Syntax and links to each vendor’s official documentation are below.
Support matrix
| Engine | Documented | Live-tested | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excel | Yes | Not yet | n/a |
| Google Sheets | Yes | Not yet | n/a |
| LibreOffice Calc | No | Yes (25.8.7.3, 2026-08-06) | Supported, behaves as documented |
LibreOffice version history
We executed the same test cases under each LibreOffice release to show exactly when FORMULATEXT’s support changed — not documentation claims, real results.
| LibreOffice version | Verdict | Tested |
|---|---|---|
| 24.2.0.3 | Supported, behaves as documented | 2026-07-19 |
| 24.8.7.2 | Supported, behaves as documented | 2026-07-19 |
| 25.2.0.3 | Supported, behaves as documented | 2026-07-24 |
| 25.8.7.3 | Supported, behaves as documented | 2026-08-06 |
Executed test cases
LibreOffice Calc 25.8.7.3 (tested 2026-08-06)
| Formula | Description | Result | Expected | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| =FORMULATEXT(A1) | A cell holding a plain arithmetic formula -> FORMULATEXT returns the exact formula text as typed | =1+2 | =1+2 | Matched |
| =FORMULATEXT(A1) | Formula text with nested string literals is returned verbatim, including quotes | =CONCATENATE("a","b") | =CONCATENATE("a","b") | Matched |
| =FORMULATEXT(A1) | A cell containing a plain (non-formula) value -> #N/A, per docs: 'The cell used as the Reference argument does not contain a formula.' Confirmed via https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/formulatext-function-0a786771-54fd-4ae2-96ee-09cda35439c8 | #N/A | #N/A | Matched |
| =FORMULATEXT(A1) | A blank cell has no formula either -> #N/A | #N/A | #N/A | Matched |
Docs & syntax
- Excel: official documentation
- Google Sheets: official documentation