Read Cell Formula
Description
Reads the formula from a cell in a Google Sheet.
Unlike reading the cell value, this activity returns the underlying formula expression rather than the calculated result.
Common settings
Use Process Data to bind supported inputs to workflow values or upstream outputs. See Common Activity Features for shared execution, error-handling, and output-persistence settings. Availability depends on the activity.
Design-Time Configuration
Display Text
A user-defined name for the activity, displayed on the workflow canvas to help identify its purpose.
Connection Name
The configured Google Sheets connection used to access Google Sheets resources.
Spreadsheet
The spreadsheet containing the cell to read.
Sheet Name
The name of the sheet where the operation will be performed.
If not specified, the currently active sheet is used.
Cell Address
The cell whose formula will be read.
For details about selecting spreadsheets, sheets, and cells, see Google Sheets Data Selection.
Execution settings
Configure Wait All Incoming when execution paths converge, and On Error for failure handling. Select Inherit where available to use the workflow-level error policy.
Output
Formula
The formula contained in the specified cell.
Example:
=SUM(A1:A10)
An empty cell returns an empty string. A cell containing a static value can return that value; verify that the returned text begins with = when the workflow requires a formula.
Remarks
- The authenticated Google account must have access to the spreadsheet.
- This activity returns the underlying formula expression rather than the calculated cell value.
- Formula results are not evaluated or calculated by this activity.
- Static values can also be returned; this activity requests formula rendering rather than testing whether the cell is a formula.
- To read the calculated value of a cell, use the Read Cell activity.