TYPE() Function Doesn't Return Value 8 for Formula

CAUSE

The TYPE() function returns information about the type of value that is contained in a cell. Microsoft Excel Help indicates that the TYPE() function returns 8 when the cell you are evaluating contains a formula. However, when the cell contains a formula, the TYPE() function returns a number based on the value returned by the function, not the function itself.

Example

   A1: =SUM(B1:C3)
   A2: =TYPE(A1)
				

Because the function in cell A1 returns a number value, the TYPE() function in cell A2 returns the value 1, for a number value, instead of the value 8 for a formula value.

Note that the return value 8 was introduced in the version 4.0a function reference. This value was not included in the documentation for the TYPE function in earlier versions of Microsoft Excel.