I also just tried
=(IF(('[Database.xls]Sheet1'!$D:$D)=B5,(MAX('[Database.xls]Sheet1'!$C:$C)),"N/A"))
which didn't work... returned the "N/A" which is my value if false. There
should have been an actual job number returned from Column C.
"Alison" wrote:
I really thought your MAX formula would work, but for some reason it didnt.
In my scenario, the "Calif Insert" is a changing criteria that I need to be
able to input in a cell. Then the formula needs to look at that cell and
then go to the database to find all the records that also contain that same
description. Then among all the ones it finds that that description in one
field, return a number to me from another field... the highest number from
the matches.
So what I did was on my template (not my database, create a formula that
refers to the database and to a cell on the template:
=MAX(IF('[Database.xls]Sheet1'!$D:$D=B5,'[Database.xls]Sheet1'!$C:$C))
Column D is the database column with the description like "Calif Insert" or
whatever alphabetic description I need to match. In that same column there
will be other descriptions like "Harris Print Ad" or "First Newsletter" etc.
B5 is the cell on the template that I will input that same description.
Column C has the project numbers like 5068 or 5037 etc., and I need the
largest one of those records that matches the description in column D.
Unless there's a problem with referencing a cell like B5, I'm not sure why
it didn't work.
It returned a value of 0. It should have returned an actual job number from
my test entries.
"Biff" wrote:
Hi!
(Instead, I need to look at all the ones that match and return a field from
the largest alphnumberic match).
Can you post some examples of these "alpha-numerics" and how do you
determine one is larger than another?
Do you mean something like:
2001-10-B
2000-75-Z
So the answer would be the job number which might look something like
"5002"
If 5002 is a real number:
=MAX(IF(A1:A100="Calif Insert", B1:B100))
Entered as an array using the key combo of CTRL,SHIFT,ENTER.
Biff
"Alison" wrote in message
...
I have a template that sends info to a database. In that template, I need
to
put in a function that will use alphabetic information in a cell as my
criteria. It then should look in the database to find records that match
that criteria and then send back to me the largest match from a field of
the
record among the records that match the criteria.
I have tried several functions, the best of which were VLOOKUP and DMAX.
Neither was what I needed. VLOOKUP gives field from the first record of
the
list that matches the criteria. (Instead, I need to look at all the ones
that match and return a field from the largest alphnumberic match). DMAX
for
some reason doesn't work when the database is closed and it doesn't let me
specify criteria for a field.
Here's an example: the template is used to enter project information for
several clients. Each of those clients may do similar projects. Of those
projects and within each client, several of the projects may be similar.
Let's say I have two projects and need to find the most recent that was
similar to another project. Projects have project numbers that go higher
as
they become more recent. In the template, I can have the information
"Calif
Insert" which represents the client name and project type, and want the
function to go to the database to find all the records that have "Calif
Insert" in a specified column. Then find me from another specified field
the
largest value in that field that matches "Client Insert" in the other
field.
So the answer would be the job number which might look something like
"5002"
which represents the most recent job (highest numbered job) that is also
described as "Calif Insert"
As I said, VLOOKUP was very close, but gave me the FIRST in the list that
matched the criteria "CLIENT NAME PROJECT" but not the highest. I guess
VLOOKUP doesn't have the ability to go past the first one it sees.
Sorting
the database is not an option.
I am desparate. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
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