File Content Extraction 26.3
Filter SDK Java Programming Guide

# Formulas - Microsoft Excel

When you filter a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, File Content Extraction extracts the value of each cell. The value of a cell might be calculated from a formula, but the formula is not included in the output unless you configure File Content Extraction to include it. You can extract the cell value, the formula, or both. For example, if you choose to extract both the cell value and the formula, the output might look like this:

    245 = SUM(B21:B26)

In this example, the calculated value from the cell is `245` and the formula from which the value is derived is `SUM(B21:B26)`.

NOTE: Depending on the complexity of the formulas, enabling formula extraction might result in slightly slower performance.

To extract formulas

- In the Java API, call the `setShowFormulas` method on the `filter` object, for example:

      filter.setShowFormulas(Filter.ShowFormulas.VALUES_AND_FORMULAS);

- You can extract formulas by adding the following parameter to `formats.ini`. (This is an alternative approach - you do not need to do this if you have configured this feature through the API).

      [Options]
      getformulastring=option

  where `option` is one of the following:

  Option | Description
  --- | ---
  `0` | Extract the cell value only. This is the default.
  `1` | Extract the formula only.
  `2` | Extract the formula and the cell value.

  If a function in a formula is invalid, and option 1 or 2 is specified, only the calculated value is extracted.

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Version 26.3 | Last updated July 2026

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Product: File Content Extraction 26.3

Topic Title: Formulas - Microsoft Excel