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ISLOGICAL Function (OpenOffice Calc)

Information Intermediate OpenOffice Calc

Learn the ISLOGICAL function in Apache OpenOffice Calc: Returns TRUE if the value carries a logical number format.

Verification status: Official documentation referenced; example outcomes independently reasoned or arithmetically checked where stated. Not executed in OpenOffice Calc. How formula examples are checked

ISLOGICAL asks whether a value in Apache OpenOffice Calc is a logical TRUE or FALSE, rather than ordinary text or a plain numeric entry. It is especially useful when a spreadsheet mixes genuine checkbox-like logic, typed labels such as "TRUE", and numbers. A logical FALSE still passes the test: ISLOGICAL tests what kind of value it is, not whether the value is true. [IL1]

Quick answer

=ISLOGICAL(A2)

If A2 contains =TRUE() or =FALSE(), the documented interpretation predicts TRUE for the ISLOGICAL test in both cases. If A2 contains an ordinary number such as 123, it predicts FALSE. Apache explicitly documents the FALSE-cell example and ISLOGICAL(123) returning FALSE. [IL1, IL2]

Unlike =A2=TRUE(), ISLOGICAL does not ask whether the cell’s value is true. It asks whether the value is a logical one. [IL1]

Syntax, required argument and return type

=ISLOGICAL(value)
Position Argument Required? Meaning
1 value Yes A scalar value, expression, or single-cell reference to inspect. Examples: A2, 123, or an expression that evaluates to TRUE/FALSE.

The function returns TRUE for a logical TRUE or logical FALSE, and FALSE for other values, according to the Apache reference. There is no second argument, no optional flag, and no default input to omit. The official syntax is the single-argument call shown above. [IL1]

The one-argument ISLOGICAL call has no list separator. In related multi-argument examples such as IF, the English Apache reference uses semicolons (;), for example =IF(ISLOGICAL(A2);"Logical";"Other"). Spreadsheet installations with other user-interface languages and locale settings may present translated function names or different separators; consult the formula editor when moving examples between installations. This guide does not claim that all locales accept the same keystrokes. [IL4]

Version/platform scope. Apache lists OpenOffice 4.1.16 as the current source release as checked 12 October 2026. Apache’s 4.1.16 announcement identifies Windows, macOS and Linux builds. The ISLOGICAL function page is a historical Apache OpenOffice wiki reference (edited 2024), not a record of executing these examples under 4.1.16. [IL1, IL7]

Build a reproducible seven-row worksheet

  1. Open a blank Calc sheet. Enter Input in A1, Type check in B1, and Expected in C1.
  2. Enter the inputs in column A exactly as below. For A8, leave the cell completely untouched; do not type the word blank.
  3. Enter =ISLOGICAL(A2) in B2 and fill it downward through B8 (the reference should adjust to each row). C2:C8 below are predictions to check against actual Calc output.
  4. Confirm the distinction between a formula evaluating to FALSE and a text string containing the letters FALSE.

On narrow screens, scroll this table sideways.

CellType or enterKind of valueExpected ISLOGICAL resultEvidence
A2=TRUE()Logical TRUE resultTRUELogical function reference [IL1, IL2]
A3=FALSE()Logical FALSE resultTRUEApache documents a FALSE-valued cell as a match [IL1, IL2]
A4123Ordinary numberFALSEApache's explicit ISLOGICAL(123) example [IL1]
A5="TRUE"Text produced by a formulaFALSEDerived from the documented logical-versus-text rule [IL1, IL3]
A6=2>1Comparison: logical TRUETRUEDocumentation-derived expected logical result [IL1, IL2]
A7=2<1Comparison: logical FALSETRUEDocumentation-derived expected logical result [IL1, IL2]
A8leave emptyNo value presentFALSEExpected from the documented predicate; native edge-case check pending [IL1, IL5]

Result explanation. A2 and A6 are logically TRUE; A3 and A7 are logically FALSE. All four should pass ISLOGICAL. A4 contains the number 123, while A5 is a text value spelling TRUE; neither represents a logical result. The empty-cell prediction in A8 should be checked in the actual target release before relying on that edge case. [IL1–IL3, IL5]

Direct documented sanity checks:

=ISLOGICAL(123)        → FALSE  (explicit Apache example)
=ISLOGICAL(A3)         → TRUE   (when A3 contains logical FALSE)
=ISLOGICAL(2>1)        → TRUE   (documentation-derived expected result)
=ISLOGICAL("FALSE")    → FALSE  (documentation-derived expected result: text)

The arrow is explanatory notation, not part of a Calc formula. Enter only the part beginning with =. No native results were observed while preparing this review draft. [IL1, IL2, IL3]

Practical scenario: validate yes/no fields before making decisions

Imagine a review worksheet in which a column is supposed to contain real TRUE or FALSE formulas. Someone might paste the word TRUE as text or type 123; those values should be flagged rather than silently treated as a decision.

Place the following in B2, using the inputs in A2:A8 from above:

=IF(ISLOGICAL(A2);IF(A2;"Approved";"Rejected");"CHECK INPUT")

Copy the formula through B8. Based on the documented behavior of ISLOGICAL and IF, the expected outcomes are:

Row A input Expected B result Reason
2 TRUE result Approved Valid logical value with TRUE outcome.
3 FALSE result Rejected Valid logical value with FALSE outcome.
4 123 CHECK INPUT Ordinary number is not a logical TRUE/FALSE field.
5 Text "TRUE" CHECK INPUT Text is not a logical value.
6 Comparison TRUE Approved Expression evaluates to logical TRUE.
7 Comparison FALSE Rejected Expression evaluates to logical FALSE.
8 Empty CHECK INPUT No explicit logical value (release-specific check pending).

The outer IF checks type first; only valid logical entries are then interpreted by the inner IF. Apache’s IF documentation says it selects only the relevant result branch. Avoid replacing this with a truthiness check alone: a number such as 123 may be treated as TRUE in other logical operations even though it is not the intended Boolean input. [IL1, IL2, IL4]

Advanced variation: distinguish missing cells from invalid types

=IF(ISBLANK(A2);"Missing";IF(ISLOGICAL(A2);IF(A2;"Yes";"No");"Unexpected type"))

Place this in C2 and fill it downward. It is intended to return Missing for a genuinely untouched cell, Yes or No for genuine logical values, and Unexpected type for numbers or text. This is a documentation-derived compound example, not an observed runtime test; review the edge cases using your installed version. [IL1, IL4, IL5]

Important distinction: TRUE/FALSE display versus a plain number

The Apache OpenOffice documentation explicitly warns that Calc’s logical values are represented numerically, with Boolean number formatting, rather than being a separate intrinsic type in the same manner as in Excel. It gives an example in which a numeric cell is formatted as Boolean and displayed as TRUE. Therefore do not assume a cell displaying TRUE proves that the original entry was an actual logical expression, or that a plain numeric 1/0 will behave identically across programs and formats. [IL1, IL2]

For controlled tests, use =TRUE() and =FALSE() rather than guessing the formatting of bare numbers. If users import a workbook, convert cell formats, or paste values, check the actual behavior before relying on the type guard. The exact behavior of a manually Boolean-formatted numeric cell is not asserted as tested in this guide; it is a priority native-validation case. [IL1, IL2]

Errors, limits and troubleshooting

  • Wrong function name or unsupported spelling: Confirm that you entered ISLOGICAL, and check the function in the Calc Function Wizard. There is no separate ISBOOLEAN alias verified by the cited Apache reference. A function or spelling from another spreadsheet is not evidence that OpenOffice supports it. [IL1, IL8]
  • Too many or missing arguments: The documented signature has exactly one required value. ISLOGICAL(A2;B2) does not match the official syntax. Do not assume a particular error number or message without an application test. [IL1]
  • A false result isn’t evidence of bad data: A valid logical FALSE should itself make ISLOGICAL return TRUE. The test checks type, not the truth of the value. [IL1]
  • Text that looks like a Boolean: A text-producing formula such as ="TRUE" is still text. Use an explicit logical formula or handle the text intentionally instead of relying on a visual label. [IL1, IL3]
  • An empty cell isn’t the same as FALSE: Use ISBLANK if the first question is whether an input has been supplied. Blank behavior in the compound example is inferred from Apache’s predicates and remains pending native execution. [IL1, IL5]
  • Errors in the tested expression: Apache’s ISLOGICAL page does not document all error-propagation edge cases. Do not assert that ISLOGICAL always returns FALSE instead of propagating an error; test source errors such as =1/0 separately in the installed version. The separate ISERROR page documents at least one historical error-propagation surprise involving CHOOSE, reinforcing the need for caution. [IL1, IL6]
  • Array formulas: Apache’s Using Arrays reference historically records ISLOGICAL as having an array-formula issue (issue 87219). This is a historical warning, not proof that the issue remains unfixed in 4.1.16. Prefer single-cell examples until you have native-tested any array workflow. [IL9]
  • Imported Excel or LibreOffice workbooks: The cited Apache material explicitly cautions that logical-number formatting and logic evaluation differ from Excel. This guide does not claim equivalence in LibreOffice, Google Sheets or other products; test imported files in the actual applications. [IL1, IL2]

Compatibility and version notes

Environment What the evidence supports What remains unverified
Apache OpenOffice Calc, documented function ISLOGICAL(value) is an Information function. Boolean values pass, and 123 does not. [IL1, IL8] Native execution on 4.1.16, error-valued input handling, formatted-number and array edge cases.
Apache OpenOffice 4.1.16 for Windows, macOS, Linux 4.1.16 is documented as a release available on these desktop platforms. [IL7] Whether every listed example behaves identically on each platform/locale.
Microsoft Excel Apache notes a different Boolean type/format model. [IL1, IL2] Formula compatibility of these exact test cases; not tested in Excel.
LibreOffice Calc, Google Sheets, other software No support assertion from these Apache-only sources. Exact syntax, aliases, formatting behavior and error propagation on those programs.

No ISLOGICAL version-specific alias or extra parameter is established by the sources consulted. Do not create separate version/alias pages on that basis. [IL1, IL8]

Related guides: IF, ISBLANK, ISTEXT, ISNUMBER.

Documentation and validation

This review draft uses the following Apache OpenOffice sources, accessed 12 October 2026. The wiki references describe historical documentation; the release page is used for release/platform scope, not as a native function test.

Verification level: Documentation research against official references and independent logical tracing of the compound IF branches. No native Apache OpenOffice test was performed. All outputs in this manuscript are expected, not observed. Error, blank, imported-format and array edge cases require manual native validation.

Validation note

The examples show expected results checked against Apache OpenOffice documentation and independent arithmetic, text mapping, or logical reasoning. They were not run in Apache OpenOffice Calc. Platform, locale, import, and unusual error cases are not certified.