How to use the CHAR function

Use the CHAR function to convert a number to the corresponding character. This is determined by your computer's character set.

1. CHAR Function Syntax

CHAR(text)

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2. CHAR Function Arguments

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3. CHAR Function example

The image above shows how to convert a number to a character using the CHAR function.

Formula in cell D3:

Explaining formula

The CHAR function converts a number between 1 and 255 to a corresponding character.

CHAR(B3)

becomes

CHAR(65)

and returns "A".

The image above shows numbers and corresponding characters.

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4. How to convert comma delimiting numbers to a string of characters

This example demonstrates a formula that converts a series of numbers to characters based on the ANSI character set. The TEXTSPLIT function is a new Excel 365 function.

Formula in cell D3:

Explaining formula

Step 1 - Split numbers using a comma as a delimiting character

The TEXTSPLIT function lets you split a string into an array across columns and rows based on delimiting characters.

TEXTSPLIT(Input_Text, col_delimiter, [row_delimiter], [Ignore_Empty])

TEXTSPLIT(B3, ",")

becomes

TEXTSPLIT("72,101,108,108,111,33", ",")

and returns

{"72","101","108","108","111","33"}.

There is no need to convert "text" numbers to regular numbers, the CHAR function accepts "text" numbers.

Step 2 - Convert numbers in array to characters

CHAR(TEXTSPLIT(B3, ","))

becomes

CHAR({"72","101","108","108","111","33"})

and returns

{"H","e","l","l","o","!"}

Step 3 - Join characters

The TEXTJOIN function allows you to combine text strings from multiple cell ranges and also use delimiting characters if you want.

TEXTJOIN(delimiter, ignore_empty, text1, [text2], ...)

TEXTJOIN(, , CHAR(TEXTSPLIT(B3, ",")))

becomes

TEXTJOIN(, , {"H","e","l","l","o","!"})

and returns "Hello!".

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5. How to list all characters based on ANSI code

Number 65 to 90 correspond to A to Z. Number 97 to 122 correspond to a to z.

Here is how to create a table containing all characters returned from char using numbers 1 to 255 in Excel:

5.1 Explaining formula

Step 1 - Create numbers from 1 to 255

The SEQUENCE function creates a list of sequential numbers.

SEQUENCE(rows, [columns], [start], [step])

SEQUENCE(32, 8)

returns

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8; 9, ... , 256}

Step 2 - Return characters

CHAR(SEQUENCE(32, 8))

returns the table above without the numbers.

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6. How to identify a new line character in an Excel formula

The image above shows a formula that converts characters to ANSI code. Cell B3 contains a carriage return between 1 and 1. The number for a new line or carriage return is 10.

I used the following formula to identify the numbers for each character in cell B3.

Formula in cell C3:

You can use CHAR(10) to create a new line in a formula, see the next image below.

6.1 Explaining formula

Step 1 - Create an array

Cell B3 contains three characters. To extract each character we need an array containing numbers from 1 to 3.

The curly brackets and delimiting characters let you create an array containing constants.

{1,2,3}

Step 2 - Split text string

The MID function returns a substring from a string based on the starting position and the number of characters you want to extract.

MID(text, start_num, num_chars)

MID(B3,{1,2,3},1)

becomes

MID("1
1",{1,2,3},1)

and returns

{"1","
","1"}.

Step 3 - Calculate the number for each character

The CODE function returns a specific number for the first character of the text argument, determined by your computer's character set.

CODE(text)

CODE(MID(B3,{1,2,3},1))

becomes

CODE({"1","
","1"})

and returns {49, 10, 49}.

Step 4 - Join numbers

The TEXTJOIN function allows you to combine text strings from multiple cell ranges and also use delimiting characters.

TEXTJOIN(",",TRUE,CODE(MID(B3,{1,2,3},1)))

becomes

TEXTJOIN(",",TRUE,{49, 10, 49})

and returns 49,10,49.

7. How to create a new line in an Excel formula

The image above shows how to create a line break in a formula, cell E3 contains a formula that concatenates strings in cells B3 and C3 and inserts a line break in between.

Formula in cell E3:

7.1 Explaining formula

Step 1 - Create a new line

The following function and number 10 create a new line.

CHAR(10)

Step 2 - Concatenate text

The ampersand character concatenates strings in an Excel formula.

B3&CHAR(10)&C3

returns

John
Doe

8. How to show a new line in a cell (wrap text)

You need to allow the text to wrap in a cell, here is how to do that:

1. Select the cell.
2. Press CTRL + 1, and the "Format Cells" dialog box appears.
3. Press with mouse on tab "Alignment, see the image above.
4. Press with left mouse button on check box "Wrap text" to enable it.
5. Press with left mouse button on OK button.

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9. How to create a tab in an Excel formula

The picture above shows that the character is CHAR(9), however, the cell doesn't display the tab. Note that the formula bar shows the tab.

Formula in cell C3:

I am using the same formulas as in section 5 to identify the corresponding numbers for each character and concatenate tab characters with given strings.

Formula in cell E3:

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8. How to create superscript characters in an Excel formula

The formula in cell B5 demonstrates how to use superscript characters, there are not that many you can use.

Formula in cell B5:

The CHAR function lets you use a couple of superscript characters see list below, and the UNICHAR function gives you more options.

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