Excel wildcard if formula. Note: download the Excel file and give it a try.

Excel wildcard if formula The IF function can be combined with AND, OR, and NOT to create more advanced logical tests. Wildcards are used to make more sophisticated partial matches. Explore symbols like *, ?, and ~ with real-world use cases in COUNTIF, VLOOKUP, SEARCH, and more. Built-in pattern matching provides a versatile tool for making string comparisons. Discover 5 powerful ways to use wildcards to filter, search, and analyze data with precision. These characters don’t only work for XLOOKUP, but also for VLOOKUP (), any other lookup function (such as MATCH (), SUMIFS ()), and the Excel search feature. Nov 22, 2024 · Excel If With Wildcard The Excel IF function is a powerful tool that allows users to perform logical tests and return different results based on the outcome. In the example shown, the formula in cell F5 is: =SUMIFS(C5:C16,B5:B16,"*hoodie*") This formula sums the quantity in column C when the text in column B contains "hoodie". The supported functions can be found here: Excel Wildcard | Exceljet In your case, there are no natural line breaks in the cell, it's just one long string of text that uses "LI x:" to indicate when a new line should begin? One work around would be to use the Find and Replace. Use wildcard characters as comparison criteria for text filters and when you're searching and replacing content. I’m using a workbook in Excel 2007 to produce duty rotas Jul 13, 2024 · XLOOKUP is a powerful Excel function that allows you to search for specific data in a range or table. There are three wildcards in Excel: the asterisk, question mark, and tilde. Jul 21, 2023 · Excel wildcard is a key function of Excel that expands the range of use when used in conditional functions. The asterisk symbol denotes the occurrence of zero or more characters, while the question mark symbol signifies the presence of only a single character. It would need to exclude letters. Wildcards with IF function is used to find phrases in Excel. 🗒 May 26, 2024 · Unlock the power of Excel formulas with wildcards for dynamic, flexible data searches. If the "If" Function isnt the correct way to do this i'm all ears for a better solution. Aug 30, 2024 · Types of wildcards to use with VLOOKUP In Excel, wildcard characters are used to do partial matches *️⃣ Excel supports three different kinds of wildcard characters. Excel lets you use Wildcard characters for catching strings and perform functions on it. However, if you use wildcards with a number, you'll convert the numeric value to a text value. I'm trying to set up a conditional format so my cells will be filled if the value includes a specific text string, but I need to use wildcards before and after the specific text string. As you've discovered, SUBSTITUTE does not support wildcards. Note that SUMIFS is not case-sensitive. We’ll use a dataset of Product Lists of ABC Company. Intro Unlock the power of Excels IF function with wildcard characters. Oct 2, 2024 · Unlock Excel IF functions with wildcard search secrets, mastering conditional logic, and formulas to enhance data analysis and filtering using IFERROR, IFStatements, and lookup functions. Aug 1, 2024 · Discover the power of wildcards in Excel! Our comprehensive guide covers how to use them to enhance your data searches and streamline your spreadsheet tasks. One solution is a formula that uses the IF function together with the SEARCH and ISNUMBER functions. These can also be used in the Conditional Formatting rules that use the "Only format cells that contain specific text" criteria. This means you can't use IF by itself to test for text that may appear anywhere in a cell. Once you learn how to use them, you’ll find that they fit naturally into features like filters, the Find and Replace tool, and formulas using COUNTIF, VLOOKUP, SEARCH, and other smart Excel conditional functions. The tilde character, on the other hand, is used to denote a wildcard Feb 1, 2023 · How can I add a wildcard to my if formula (that also contains an or condition) Asked 2 years, 9 months ago Modified 2 years, 9 months ago Viewed 1k times Introduction Discovering specific data in Excel can sometimes feel like finding a needle in a haystack. Can this formula (not VBA) be expanded to have this wildcard type Jun 9, 2025 · The Excel IF function performs a logical test and returns one result when the logical test returns TRUE and another when the logical test returns FALSE. Jun 22, 2025 · Wildcard in Excel – Full Guide with Examples for Beginners to Experts Learn how to use wildcard in Excel like a pro. The most representative of the Excel conditional functions is the IF function. Apr 9, 2025 · 2. Includes downloadable file! May 23, 2023 · The tutorial explains the syntax and basic uses of the IF function in Excel. May 11, 2025 · Master the power of Excel IF functions with wildcard characters! Learn how to create dynamic formulas and streamline your data analysis. For more about using wildcard characters with the Find and Replace features in Excel, see Find or replace text and numbers on a worksheet. Wildcard characters are all about searching a text with a partial match. Replace one or more characters in the criteria with a wildcard character. For example, if you have a list of email addresses, and want to extract those that contain "ABC", the Jun 18, 2015 · I can find thread explaining how to use wildcard characters with IF using COUNTIF but I am trying to find something that will search multiple columns to say "Y" or "N" if it is contained in either cell. Wildcards with IF function explained here with examples. The problem I am having is that I wanted to use an IF statement but with a wildcard but now know that is not possible but I don't know a workaround. If you have numeric values, use logical operators in the formula. However, with the use of wildcards, this task becomes not only feasible but straightforward. Apr 7, 2025 · We explain different types of Excel VLOOKUP wildcard. Mar 21, 2023 · The tutorial explains how to use FIND and SEARCH functions in Excel with formula examples. This article will delve into how beginners can utilize wildcards within the 'if' function to search a range for values, transforming complex tasks into simple, efficient processes. How to Use a Wildcard in an IF statement to Search for Partial MatchesAre you ready to unravel the secrets of Excel's wildcard magic and harness its power to Jan 6, 2022 · This tutorial will demonstrate how to use wildcard characters in Excel and Google Sheets. In the example shown, the formula in H7 is: =TRANSPOSE((XLOOKUP(H4,D5:D15,B5:E15,"Not found",2))) which performs a wildcard match with the value in H4 and returns all 4 fields as the result. Jan 10, 2019 · Good morning, Experts and Gurus, While I wait for the coffee to jumpstart my brain, I need some help with what’s likely a simple one. Jan 6, 2020 · Wildcard represents one or more other characters. This is the formula that works for Jul 15, 2024 · While working in Excel sheets, sometimes you need to use wildcards for many purposes. g. One limitation of the IF function is that it does not support Excel wildcards like "?" and "*". Learn how to use the wildcard characters in Excel with real example formulas and practice exercises. However, see below for a case-sensitive option. ~~ finds a literal tilde. Example: Remember Excel’s wildcard characters? If we use wildcard characters with SUMIF, we can sum values using partial criteria and the good news is Feb 1, 2023 · The formula works with only exact matches and I would like to add a wildcard option if possible to allow for partial matches. Jul 6, 2024 · 5 Methods to Use Wildcard with IF Statement in Excel You can’t use the wildcard in the IF formula alone, but you can use it in conjunction with other functions. For example, if you are looking for a string with known ending or beginning, and unknown characters in the middle, you can use wildcard characters to tell Excel to look for all compatible matches. Asterisk (*) The asterisk character means any number of characters in the world of a wildcard search. Wildcards are characters that allow you to make more robust functions, searches, and filters in Excel. in below case first 4 cells in dispute Jun 2, 2023 · This tutorial explains how to use a wildcard in the COUNTIF function in Excel, including several examples. The following table shows the wildcard characters you can use with the Like operator and the number of digits or strings they match. I’ve searched but can find nothing that seems to answer my question so I’m throwing myself at the mercy of the collective wisdom of this forum. You cannot use the wildcard characters *, ! in a logical test. Sections: Wildcards Question Mark Example Asterisk Example Tilde Example Referencing Aug 18, 2009 · Hello. Master advanced formulas with IF, Wildcard, VLOOKUP, and INDEX/MATCH to boost your data analysis skills. Note: In older versions of Excel that do May 11, 2024 · To perform a partial match with XLOOKUP, supply 2 for the match mode argument to allow wildcards. The left side of this formula piece is a cell reference. E. I have a large spreadsheet (2000 rows) , in column A is the job ref, in Column G is the completion date and in column K is where i need the formula. What do I mean by a wildcard? The most commonly-used wildcard is the asterisk (*) which represents “zero or more characters”. Master flexible conditional logic Feb 21, 2017 · I know I'll need to make use of wildcard characters unless I want to type out the providers' full names for the PCP field Anyone have any suggestions on how to make this work? Learn more about applying criteria to a query. In this post, you will learn how to use wildcard characters in Excel. Unleash Excel's potential with wildcards! Explore advanced formulas, solve common issues, and boost productivity by using wildcard in excel. In other words, you can't do something like =IF (G2="Order*","Yes","No"). In the example shown, the formula in C5 is: Jan 9, 2005 · I'm having trouble getting the "*" wildcard to work in my IF statement. Aug 30, 2024 · To learn all about using wildcard characters in Excel, continue reading the guide below. Logical operators and wildcards in these conditional functions are useful the more you know about them. Explanation: COUNTIF function count the cells given criteria Criteria is given in using * (asterisk) wildcard to look for value which has any number of characters. Mar 19, 2019 · Using wildcards with the IF statement Asked 6 years, 8 months ago Modified 6 years, 8 months ago Viewed 3k times If function with wildcards Hello All, Hopefully this is an easy one for the experts out there. In this section, we’ll cover the available wildcards, for example, wildcard usage and functions that support wildcards. By using wildcards with VLOOKUP you can win all those situations where it's hard to use VLOOKUP. Learn 5 practical ways to use wildcards to simplify complex formulas, automate tasks, and boost productivity. They represent non-specified characters to help you locate text values with "fuzzy" matches. In the example shown, the formula in H7 is: =VLOOKUP (value&"*",data,2,FALSE) where value (H4) and data (B5:E104) are named ranges. I’m trying to use the “*” wildcard in a nested IF statement, but for some reason it’s not working (and I know how much you love that ambiguity of the latter part of that statement, but I honestly don’t know how else to put it!) By the logic I’m May 14, 2024 · Excel supports the wildcard characters "*" and "?", and these wildcards can be used to perform partial (substring) matches in various lookup formulas. With a bit of creativity, you will learn in this article how to perform “Begins With”, “Ends With”, “Contains”, and “Does Not Contain” search criteria, so that you can carry out more complex filtering with your dynamic array formulas. chatGPT, BARD, GPT4 etc) to create forum answers is not permitted. Discover 5 innovative ways to use IF with wildcard in Excel, including partial matches, multiple criteria, and text manipulation. In the example shown, the formula in F5 is: XLOOKUP ("*"&G4&"*",data [Title],data,,2) Where G4 contains a partial string to look for and data is an Excel Table in the range B5:D16. Learn how to use wildcards for partial text match in IF function in Excel. Aug 23, 2022 · Unfortunately, Excel’s Filter function does not perform partial-match or wildcard searches. This comprehensive guide covers practical examples and tips for efficient data management, unlocking the true potential of Excel's wildcard functionality. I'm aware of the fact that wildcards are not possible within a if-statement, but when you replace the if with a countif and check if the value is >0, it should be possible Wildcards are special characters used in Excel that replace other characters in a formula. Aug 22, 2023 · The tutorial explains how to use COUNTIFS and COUNTIF formulas with multiple criteria in Excel based on AND as well as OR logic. I'm looking to use an if function with wild cards to search for specific words in a text blob. You will find a number of examples for different data types – numbers, dates, text, wildcard characters, non-blank cells and more. While the basic IF function is versatile, sometimes we need to perform more complex tests Jul 3, 2024 · This article discusses three methods for using SUMIFS with a wildcard in Excel, as well as three other options. Master this skill for enhanced data analysis and efficient decision-making. Jan 15, 2024 · I'm hoping there's a way to make a wildcard out of that search term so that it would now look something like 4_W or 4#W, meaning it would look for any number between the 4 and the W, or respectively the 2 and the F, but only allowing numbers. Excel Wildcard Symbols A wildcard is a special character that There are three Excel wildcard characters (asterisk, question mark, and tilde) that can get some amazing stuff done in Excel. More than one condition can be tested by nesting IF functions. You put wildcards in functions, usually in the criteria argument, and this allows you to find partial matches for words, numbers, and characters. Jul 8, 2023 · You can create elaborated conditions with the function SUMIFS or COUNTIFS with wildcard or greater and lower test. Mar 26, 2019 · Become an Excel wildcard wizard with our comprehensive guide! Learn how to master wildcard characters in Excel for efficient data analysis. It is a fundamental part of Excel's formula capabilities and is widely used for data analysis, automation, and decision-making processes. Jan 31, 2020 · I need to use wildcards within the if statement in a sum frequency / match formula like the formula above. Oct 27, 2014 · Forum Microsoft Office Application Help - Excel Help forum Excel Formulas & Functions [SOLVED] If text does not contain (wildcard), return value of cell The use of AI tools (e. In Excel, you can use three different wildcards to build a formula. Discover practical examples using *, ?, and ~ in filtering, VLOOKUP (), and more. In the Criteria row of the field that you want to use, type the operator Like in front of your criteria. May 30, 2025 · Excel Wildcard Characters: A Guide with Examples Learn how Excel's wildcard characters enhance flexibility in search, replace, and formula logic. e. Using wildcards with XLOOKUP enhances its flexibility, enabling you to perform partial matches and more complex searches. Note that match_mode must be set to 2 to use wildcards with XLOOKUP. The IF function doesn’t support wildcards, but you can combine IF with COUNTIF or COUNTIF to get basic wildcard functionality. =IF(OR(K3="Fixed Rate*", K3="Mobile Rate*"), "true", "false") I have also tried something like. Wildcard lookups and include or exclude criteria - Excel 365 The image above shows an Excel 365 formula that extracts records from a data set located on sheet2 based on criteria specified in cells B3:E5. Aug 6, 2024 · 7 easy helpful ways to use countif wildcard in Excel. You will learn how to create an 'If then' formula for text, numbers, dates, blank cells as well as how to write multiple IF statements. We also share examples for each wildcard and explain how to troubleshoot any issues. Here we discuss how to use the three types of wildcards with examples and downloadable excel template. Excel is an incredibly powerful tool, but its true magic lies in its flexibility. Jul 18, 2023 · This tutorial explains how to use an IF function with a wildcard in Excel, including an example. In this blog, we will explore how to escape characters in Excel to ensure they are interpreted correctly. A wildcard is a special character that lets you perform "fuzzy" matching on text in your Excel formulas. This technique allows for flexible data manipulation, enabling users to make informed decisions based on complex criteria and patterns. Note: download the Excel file and give it a try. For example, Like R?308021 Apr 25, 2014 · Hello everyone. Simply placing the tilde before the asterisk tells Excel that the asterisk is not to be used as a wildcard. Discover how to unlock the full potential of your data with this essential tool. Learn how to use wildcard characters in Excel to save time when working with formulas. The formula is in the following Jun 3, 2024 · Learn to use wildcards in Excel's IF Function for partial text matches, making it easy to check if a cell contains a specific word. May 12, 2025 · Wildcards in Microsoft Excel let you search for partial matches, broaden your filters, and create formulas that reference cells containing certain strings. Jul 21, 2025 · Unlock Excel's IF Cell Contains power! Get 25 real-world formulas & examples to check for partial text, multiple words, numbers, & more. The workaround is to use SEARCH and ISNUMBER. I’m trying to use a wildcard in an IF statement, and it basically comes down to this statement below that should be false, but excel populates true. ~* finds a literal asterisk. Mar 14, 2023 · The tutorial shows how to make Excel IF statement with wildcard text and get it to work for partial matches. Jan 17, 2021 · Excel has two wildcard characters (“?” and “*”) as well as the tilde (“~”) in case you actually want to search for a question mark or asterisk. Contain Use *bc* to find all cells that contain "bc". Nov 22, 2017 · 3 Excel does not support wildcard statements on all formulas (see supported formulas), but you can achieve similar result, if you build a bit your formula. Nov 12, 2025 · Thankfully, Excel’s wildcard characters can help you get there faster. In other words, if the cell value contains the text "my specific text", anywhere in the cell value, I Apr 24, 2021 · Dear community, I'm struggling with a formula where I want to use a wildcard condition to sum and multiply values if the corresponding month is In this video I demonstrate how to perform a wildcard "contains" test in an IF statement. One of the underrated features that every Excel user—from beginner to advanced—should master Aug 13, 2024 · To create a "contains substring" type lookup formula, you can use the XLOOKUP function with wildcards. It will help you look up a value Dec 16, 2022 · To sum if cells contain specific text, you can use the SUMIFS or SUMIF function with a wildcard. This article will explain how to use wildcards with XLOOKUP, providing step-by-step instructions, examples, and best practices. This is because Excel treats certain symbols as wildcards or operators rather than plain text. Here, I will show you how to use wildcards in Excel. In this article, we will learn about how and when to use Wildcard characters or in-built regex (regular expressions) characters for excel functions. Mar 14, 2023 · Everything you need to know about wildcards: what wildcard characters Excel recognizes, and how to best use them with built-in features and in formulas with text and numbers. Intro Discover the power of wildcards in Excel IF statements. Improve your efficiency in data analysis and manipulation. Sep 25, 2018 · Excel supports wildcard characters in formulas to find values that share a simple pattern. The IF function doesn't support wildcards directly, so we can't use IF by itself. The TRANSPOSE function is optional and used here only to convert the result from XLOOKUP to a vertical array. Solution 1 E. Also learn how to use wildcards in formulas and how to use wildcards in filters. Master this technique today to enhance your spreadsheets! Jun 15, 2015 · Excel formula LIKE, AND, IF, WILDCARDS Asked 10 years, 5 months ago Modified 4 years, 9 months ago Viewed 228k times Aug 6, 2023 · If you’ve ever tried to use Excel’s IF function with a wildcard, you’ll know that it doesn’t work. Jun 3, 2021 · To retrieve information from a table based on a partial match, you can use the VLOOKUP function in exact match mode with a wildcard. , try using FIND() with IFERROR(). Sep 18, 2024 · Excel Wildcard characters and Examples As we mentioned above, wildcards only work with text. I need formula to know if text column has dispute word in it. Sep 27, 2024 · Master Excel formula for partial matches using VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, Filter and more Examples. Jan 28, 2025 · Master the art of data manipulation with Excel's powerful wildcard feature. Learn how to harness the asterisk (), question mark (?), and tilde () symbols to create flexible formulas and unlock new data insights. Cells B4:E4 allow you to include or exclude specific conditions using drop down lists. Download our workbook, modify data and practice yourself. FIND() will give you a number, telling you where the searched string is located. This comprehensive guide explores the benefits of using wildcards in Excel IF functions, offering a flexible and efficient approach to data analysis. Learn how to use the COUNTIF function in Excel for partial matching, including wildcard characters, with helpful examples and explanations. Practice makes perfect. Aug 31, 2011 · The tilde wild card allows you to search for words that contain a wild card - either * or ?. Please post your discoveries in the comments below for all to share. CountIF and Wildcards By Justmegan93 in forum Excel Formulas & Functions Replies: 5 Last Post: 10-09-2014, 09:05 AM Jun 14, 2018 · I'm trying to use an IF statement to find a string of text with a wildcard in a particular cell. I’m having a problem using a wildcard in an IF formula. Examples of wildcard character pattern matching in expressions To use a wildcard character within a pattern: Open your query in Design view. For example, this formula: Aug 27, 2015 · I'm using an IF (OR function to determine whether the text contents of a cell match a pre-determined list of target phrases. In case you'd like to look for a partial match in the IF formula (Excel IF function with text containing another word), you can't use an asterisk sign just like you would in the SUMIFS or COUNTIFS Excel's IF function doesn't support wildcards. Note: ~? finds a literal question mark. Master Excels wildcard feature in IF statements with our expert guide. Apr 1, 2025 · When working with Excel, you might encounter situations where special characters such as the asterisk (*) behave unexpectedly. In this guide, we're going to show you how to use Wildcard criteria in Excel formulas. This is a very simplified version of my spreadsheet as a term is entered into top box ("gray") the header is returned ("E"). We will look for a specific partial text with the wildcards. You can use them to find and replace text, match patterns, and more. Master using asterisks, question marks, and tilde symbols to match patterns, and unlock advanced Excel techniques for data analysis and decision-making. All the same reference should show "Yes" in dispute column. There will also be solutions covering case sensitivity. 4 days ago · Learn how to master partial matches in Excel, from traditional wildcard characters to using AI tools for faster, more intuitive data lookups and analysis. In this video I show you a simple workaround to a common problem. In the screenshot below, G2 contains the following formula: =IF (F2=”Order * “,”Y”,”N”) In other words, if F2 starts with the word Order and Guide to Wildcard In Excel. Here are some examples. Wildcards are special characters that allow you to perform “fuzzy” matching on text in your formulas. On the face of it should be quite simple but for the life of me I can’t get it to work and I don’t know why. Feb 18, 2020 · I am attempting to extract a word, preferably wildcard style from a cell and then place the desired text in another cell. & operator concatenate the two values where it lays "*" & E4 : criteria, formula checks each cell and returns only the cells which satisfies the criteria Here the range is given as array reference and pattern is given as cell Oct 23, 2024 · Utilize Excel's wildcard characters within IF statements to perform powerful text-based calculations. If a user is believed to have used such tools to provide a forum answer, sanctions may be imposed. Jan 18, 2015 · I have two columns, Ref and Text. Here's a simple example of my formula that resides in {Column B}: =IF (A2="*McCaleb",TRUE,FALSE) Here's my array: {Column A} {Column B} Justin McCaleb FALSE If you’re an Excel user, you’ve probably heard of wildcards. For example, to "pass" scores above 70: =IF(A1>70,"Pass","Fail"). There are other formulas you can use Wildcards with so feel free to experiment. May 18, 2023 · The goal of this formula is to verify whether the values in column B follow the format xx-xxxx-xxx, where "x" represents any single character. aqw jhft honehrpd zbqixu urkc mbk dzngidr hqhuvq ozjb vec cvgi icz tboc kbuyf dqopz