Worksheet name exists

Worksheet name exists

Generic formula 

=ISREF(INDIRECT("sheetname"&"!A1"))

Related formulas 

Dynamic worksheet reference

Get sheet name only

Explanation

To test if a worksheet name exists in a workbook, you can use a formula based on the ISREF and INDIRECT functions. In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:

=ISREF(INDIRECT(B5&"!A1"))

How this formula works

The ISREF function returns TRUE for a valid worksheet reference and FALSE is not.

In this case, we want to find out of a particular sheet exists in a workbook, so we construct a full reference by concatenating the sheet names in column B with an exclamation mark and "A1":

B5&"!A1"

This returns the text:

"Sheet1!A1"

which goes into the INDIRECT function. INDIRECT then tries to evaluate the text as a reference.

When INDIRECT succeeds, the reference is passed into ISREF which returns TRUE. When INDIRECT can't create a reference, it throws a #REF error, and ISREF returns FALSE.

Worksheet name exists

Generic formula 

=ISREF(INDIRECT("sheetname"&"!A1"))

Related formulas 

Dynamic worksheet reference

Get sheet name only

Explanation

To test if a worksheet name exists in a workbook, you can use a formula based on the ISREF and INDIRECT functions. In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:

=ISREF(INDIRECT(B5&"!A1"))

How this formula works

The ISREF function returns TRUE for a valid worksheet reference and FALSE is not.

In this case, we want to find out of a particular sheet exists in a workbook, so we construct a full reference by concatenating the sheet names in column B with an exclamation mark and "A1":

B5&"!A1"

This returns the text:

"Sheet1!A1"

which goes into the INDIRECT function. INDIRECT then tries to evaluate the text as a reference.

When INDIRECT succeeds, the reference is passed into ISREF which returns TRUE. When INDIRECT can't create a reference, it throws a #REF error, and ISREF returns FALSE.