If B1 is less than 1/1/2005 (in this case it is an earlier year) then the
formula in C10 needs to just look at C6 (1165) remove 1000 and display only
165 because it is less than the largest number in the array A7:A9 (460).
Think of this as starting to count from one again once you hit 1000.

Question1: Why is 165 displayed? Because the remainder of C6/1000 is <
the largest number in the array? What happens when it's than the largest
# in the array?

Now, if in B1 the date was, say 7/1/2005 (same year as C1's date), then the
formula in C10 would then look at B5 (97) and also C6 (1165) add them
together (97+1165), strip off the left "1" (or 1000 depending on how you see
it) and display 262 (97+165) because 262 is less than largest number in the
array A7:A9 (460).

Question 2: What happens when the sum of B5 and C6 are greater than the
largest # in the array?

If B5 was, say 1502 (B1 date 7/1/2005), then C10 would add B5 (1502) and C6
(1165) = 2667 and then remove the left 2 which leaves 667. Now because 667
is greater than the largest number in the array A7:A9 (460), the formula in
C10 would then remove the left digit 6 from 667 and display 67 because 67 is
less than the largest number in the array A7:A9 (460).

Question 3: What happens when the remainder of (B5+C6) is < the largest #
in the array.

There are pieces of this puzzle still missing.

"Luke" wrote in message
...
The formula needs to be in C10 and needs return a 3 digit/or-less
number as close as possible to be equal to or less than the largest number
in
A7:A9 (460) based on C6 (Line) or C6+B5 (B5 added only if B1 date is in
the
same year) with reference to A7:A9.
That is as simple as it gets.

To elaborate:
"A" column's digits in the array (A7:A9) change
"B" column doesn't change (archive if you will)
C1 = Today()
C6 has its own formula and changes as C1's date changes (plus 1 each day)

If B1 is less than 1/1/2005 (in this case it is an earlier year) then the
formula in C10 needs to just look at C6 (1165) remove 1000 and display
only
165 because it is less than the largest number in the array A7:A9 (460).
Think of this as starting to count from one again once you hit 1000.

Now, if in B1 the date was, say 7/1/2005 (same year as C1's date), then
the
formula in C10 would then look at B5 (97) and also C6 (1165) add them
together (97+1165), strip off the left "1" (or 1000 depending on how you
see
it) and display 262 (97+165) because 262 is less than largest number in
the
array A7:A9 (460).

If B5 was, say 1502 (B1 date 7/1/2005), then C10 would add B5 (1502) and
C6
(1165) = 2667 and then remove the left 2 which leaves 667. Now because
667
is greater than the largest number in the array A7:A9 (460), the formula
in
C10 would then remove the left digit 6 from 667 and display 67 because 67
is
less than the largest number in the array A7:A9 (460).

Just incase it matters:
If or when a Draft shows (don't ask), column C is "filled right". I enter
the draft number into C2 and enter the number of days it took for the
Draft
to show in C5. then archive column C and start the whole process over in
column D.
That's what I do

Here is that portion of the sheet
A B C
1 Date 8/29/2002 11/6/2005
2 Draft 40
3 Since 97 1165
4 First
5 Days 97
6 Line 13521 1165
7 4 3458
8 410 6798 1165
9 460 5745
10 Chec 165
Luke