Hi Mark

SMALL() uses arguments of 1, 2, 3 etc. to give the smallest value in a
range, the second smallest etc.
You can hard code these numbers into a formula, which means you have to
alter each formula as you copy it across the page.

COLUMN() returns the column number, COLUMN(A:A) will return 1, but as
you copy across from the first cell, then it changes to COLUMN(B:B),
COLUMN(C:C) etc. thereby stepping up the number in the argument for you
automatically so one formula can be copied across (and down) the sheet
as appropriate.

The fact that you are not using data in Column A is of no consequence,
it is merely fixing the result to be 1 in your starting formula.

--
Regards

Roger Govier


"Mark McDonough" wrote in message
...
This works very well.....Thank you.

Just trying to understand the formula though. I have a column of
minimum data so that I can probably get by with a simpler formula.

What is the COLUMN(A:A) and SMALL for. It seems to me to be redundant.
The formula I have used is exactly as presented below but the whole
calculation does not depend on column A at all.

Having used this formula, a major hurdle has been overcome at work and
now they want me to present it to the group - quite scared!!!



"Mark McDonough" wrote in message
...
Thanks very much guys.........I'll give it a go at work tomorrow
"Roger Govier" wrote in message
...
Hi Mark

Try the array formula (Enter with Control+Shift+Enter)
{=INDEX($B$1:$E$1,1,MATCH(SMALL(IF($B2:$E20,$B2:$ E2),COLUMN(A:A)),$B2:$E2,0))}
Copy across through successive columns.
Column(A:A) will find the first smallest. As you drag across that
will change to B:B etc to find the second smallest etc.
If there is no value that meets the test, for example if there are
only 2 values out of the 3 entered, then it can't find the third
smallest and will return a #NUM error.

If you want to get rid of this, then wrap the whole formula in an
error trap
=IF(ISERROR(formula),"",formula)


--
Regards

Roger Govier


"Mark McDonough" wrote in message
...
Following up on a previous query..........I am able to look along a
row of values and return the name of the cheapest supplier thanks
muchly toJohn Topely and Bob Philips.

To obtain the name of the supplier I tried
=INDEX($B$1:$E$1,1,MATCH(MIN(IF($B2:$E20,$B2:$E2) ),$B2:$E2,0))

as suggested and it works well.

Extending on that idea, how would I go about returning the name of
the supplier that had the next cheapest rate and the third cheapest
given that I have 24 suppliers. For the purpose of illustration, I
have only shown 3 in my example.

Site Supplier A Supplier B Supplier C
Bilo1 175000 150000 125000
Bilo2 125000 50000 60000
Bilo3 50000 60000 70000

Any help appreciated


Cheers

Mark


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