How to Display the Original Cell Content When the IF Function Condition Is False
With the Excel IF function, you can display different results in a cell based on a condition. Sometimes, you may want to display the original cell content when the condition is false (i.e., the condition is not met). This article explains how to use the IF function to display the original value of a cell when the condition is false.
Basic Usage of the IF Function
The IF function displays different results based on whether a condition is true or false. The basic syntax is as follows:
=IF(condition, result_if_true, result_if_false)
Here, by specifying the original cell reference as the third argument (result_if_false), you can display the cell’s original value when the condition is false.
Example: Displaying the Original Cell Content When the Condition Is False
For instance, to display “Pass” if the value in cell A1 is “100 or higher” and the original value of A1 otherwise:
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 80 | =IF(A1>=100, “Pass”, A1) |
| 2 | 120 | =IF(A2>=100, “Pass”, A2) |
Steps
- Enter a value in cell A1 (e.g., 80 or 120).
- Enter the following formula in cell B1: =IF(A1>=100, “Pass”, A1)
- If the value in A1 is 100 or higher, B1 will display “Pass.” If it is less than 100, B1 will display the original value from A1.
- If you want to display nothing when the condition is true: =IF(A1>=100, “”, A1)
Results
If the value in A1 is “80,” B1 will display “80.” If the value in A2 is “120,” B2 will display “Pass.”
Practical Applications
This method is useful for cases like test scores or sales figures, where you want to display specific messages or values only when a condition is met while retaining the original data for other cases. By using the IF function, you can maintain the original data when conditions are not met and customize the output when conditions are satisfied.
Summary
To display the original cell content when the IF function condition is false, specify the cell reference as the third argument of the IF function. This approach allows you to retain the original cell content when the condition is false while customizing the output when the condition is true.