CONTAINS Function

Is used within another function to search for a character or string. It will return "True" if it found the character or string. Otherwise, it will return "False."
Sample Usage
IF(CONTAINS("Jacket", [Clothing Item]:[Clothing Item]), "True", "False")
Syntax
CONTAINS(
  • search_for
  • range
)
  • search_for
    —
    The text or a cell reference to find
  • range
    —
    The group of cells to evaluate
Examples

This example references the following sheet information:

Row #

Clothing Item

Units Sold

Sold Date

Status

1

T-Shirt

78

02/12/19 10:23 PM

Green

2

Pants

42

02/15/19 1:55 AM

Red

3

Jacket

217

02/20/19 2:45 PM

Yellow

 

Given the table above, here are some examples of using CONTAINS in a sheet:

Formula

Description

Result

=SUMIF([Clothing Item]:[Clothing Item], CONTAINS("T-Shirt", @cell), [Units Sold]:[Units Sold])

Sums the cell values in the Units Sold column if the adjacent cell in the Clothing Item column of the same row contains the value T-Shirt.

 

Row 1 meets this criteria.

78

=COUNTIFS([Sold Date]:[Sold Date], CONTAINS("1:55 AM", @cell))

Counts the cell values in the Sold Date column that contains the value 1:55 AM.

 

Row 2 meets the criteria.

1

=IF(CONTAINS("Jacket", [Clothing Item]:[Clothing Item]), "True", "False")

If the value Jacket is contained within a cell of the Clothing Item column produce the value True.

 

Row 3 meets this criteria.

True

Still need help? 

Use the Smartsheet Formula Template to view examples and practice working with functions in real-time.

Find examples of how other Smartsheet customers use this function or ask about your specific use case in the Smartsheet online Community.

Ask the Community