Search Data using Original Values

Sometimes the value of the data is hidden because it is formatted in some way. For example, suppose cell D4 has formula =Sum(A1:A2) and its value is 20 but it is formatted as —, then the value 20 is hidden and cannot be found using Microsoft Excel find options. However, you can find it using Aspose.Cells using LookInType.OriginalValues

The following sample code illustrates the above point. It finds cell D4 which cannot be found using Microsoft Excel find options but Aspose.Cells can find it using LookInType.OriginalValues. Please read the comments inside the code for more information.

Node.js code to search data using original values

const AsposeCells = require("aspose.cells.node");
const path = require("path");

// The path to the documents directory.
const dataDir = path.join(__dirname, "data");

// Create workbook object
const workbook = new AsposeCells.Workbook();

// Access first worksheet
const worksheet = workbook.getWorksheets().get(0);

// Add 10 in cell A1 and A2
worksheet.getCells().get("A1").putValue(10);
worksheet.getCells().get("A2").putValue(10);

// Add Sum formula in cell D4 but customize it as ---
const cell = worksheet.getCells().get("D4");

let style = cell.getStyle();
style.setCustom("---");
cell.setStyle(style);

// The result of formula will be 20 but 20 will not be visible because the cell is formatted as ---
cell.setFormula("=Sum(A1:A2)");

// Calculate the workbook
workbook.calculateFormula();

// Create find options, we will search 20 using original values otherwise 20 will never be found because it is formatted as ---
const options = new AsposeCells.FindOptions();
options.setLookInType(AsposeCells.LookInType.OriginalValues);
options.setLookAtType(AsposeCells.LookAtType.EntireContent);

let foundCell = null;
const obj = 20;

// Find 20 which is Sum(A1:A2) and formatted as ---
foundCell = worksheet.getCells().find(obj, foundCell, options);

// Print the found cell
console.log(foundCell);

// Save the workbook
workbook.save(path.join(dataDir, "output_out.xlsx"));

Console output generated by the sample code

Here is the console output of the above sample code.

  

Aspose.Cells.Cell [ D4; ValueType : IsNumeric; Value : ---; Formula:=SUM(A1:A2)]