Try this in A1:

=IF(OR(B1={"X","Y","Z"}),"*","")

--
HTH,

RD

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"gimp" wrote in message
oups.com...
i was given the formula to use in cell A1 if cell b1 = x to make A1
either be blank if it said something other than x, or if it said x it
would generate an (*). now is there a formula that can be used in the
same senario if B1 had a series of possible values to generate a (*) in
cell A1?

thanks again