UNICODE in WPS on Windows: Introduction

WPS UNICODE is a spreadsheet text function in WPS Office for Windows that returns the Unicode code point of the first character in a text value; this guide covers 3 core tasks, with 3 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.

At a Glance

Metric	Value	Notes
Core tasks	3	Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index
Available without membership	3	Matches the number of Free rows in the How-to Index
Membership-related items	0	This feature does not require membership
Version scope	No version restriction	Available in WPS Spreadsheet across supported Windows releases

About This Feature

Overview

The UNICODE function in WPS Spreadsheet returns the Unicode code point of the first character in a text value. It is useful for character inspection, text cleanup, and formula checking in spreadsheet workflows.

Core capabilities include:

Enter UNICODE(text) to return the Unicode value of the first character.
View syntax guidance while typing the function in the formula bar.
Use the function with cell references so results update when source text changes.

System Requirements

Item	Requirement
Operating system	A Windows device that can run WPS Office normally
App version	It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office
Network	No mandatory internet connection is required for local formula entry and calculation; downloading, installation, and account services require internet access
Other	You need to open WPS Spreadsheet and edit worksheet cells

Download & Installation

Item	Details
Official download	WPS Office Free Download
Post-install check	Open WPS Spreadsheet, select any cell, and type `=UNICODE(` to confirm the function entry point is available

Source: WPS download center

Compare with Alternatives

Dimension	WPS	Microsoft	Google	Notion	Adobe
Capability Summary	Supports `UNICODE(text)` in spreadsheets to return the Unicode code point of the first character, with formula syntax guidance during entry.	Excel provides `UNICODE(text)` and returns the number, or code point, for the first character of the text.	Google Sheets provides `UNICODE(text)` and returns the decimal Unicode value of the first character of the text.	Notion formulas support many text, number, date, and list functions, but its published formula function list does not show a direct `UNICODE` spreadsheet-style function.	Adobe official Unicode documentation focuses on Unicode paths and Unicode text handling in Acrobat developer workflows rather than worksheet-style `UNICODE` cell functions.
WPS Advantages	Advantage: WPS keeps this task in a familiar spreadsheet formula workflow and supports direct entry in cells or the formula bar with syntax prompts.	Compared with WPS: Microsoft offers a directly corresponding `UNICODE` function with similar syntax and behavior.	Compared with WPS: Google also offers a directly corresponding `UNICODE` function and notes that numbers passed in are parsed as strings.	Compared with WPS: Notion is oriented toward database formulas and property logic instead of traditional worksheet cell formulas for this task.	Compared with WPS: Adobe documentation here is aimed at document and file-path handling, not spreadsheet cell calculation for character code lookup.
Official Source	—	UNICODE function	UNICODE function	Formula syntax and functions	Working with Unicode Paths

Overall Conclusion: For spreadsheet users who need to inspect the Unicode value of the first character in text, WPS, Microsoft Excel, and Google Sheets all provide a direct function-based approach. Notion and Adobe document Unicode in different product contexts, so WPS is better aligned with standard worksheet formula use on Windows.

Use Cases

No.	Scenario	Suitable For	Core Need	How WPS Helps
1	Check character codes	Spreadsheet users	Need to confirm the code point for a character	Enter `=UNICODE("A")` or reference a target cell
2	Troubleshoot unusual text	Data cleanup users	Need to identify unexpected or invisible characters	Apply UNICODE to the target text and inspect the first character value
3	Teach formula basics	Trainers and educators	Need to demonstrate text function entry and results	Type the function in the formula bar and explain the syntax prompt
4	Compare multilingual characters	Office users	Need to compare character code differences across languages	Use UNICODE on different characters and compare results
5	Build dynamic worksheets	Everyday office users	Need results to refresh when source text changes	Combine UNICODE with cell references

Membership & Benefits

Free vs WPS Premium

Capability	Free Users	WPS Premium
UNICODE function entry and calculation	✅ Available	✅ Available
Basic spreadsheet editing	✅ Available	✅ Available
Additional advanced benefits	Available within the free plan scope shown on the pricing page	Includes expanded benefits provided by the selected membership plan

Source: WPS Office pricing page

Recommendations

Usage Scenario	Recommended Plan	Why
You only need basic functions such as UNICODE	Free plan	This function is available without membership for routine spreadsheet work
You also need broader office benefits	WPS Premium	Suitable if you need additional office features and membership services

WPS membership center: Subscribe now