=MAX(IF("John"=B2:B3,A2:A3,""))

Change B2:B3/A2:A3 to reflect the entire range of names and ensure you press
cntrl-shift-enter as this is a formulaic array.
--
http://HelpExcel.com




"excelFan" wrote:

please help
column column
a:a b:b
visit date name
-------- --------
1/25/04 john
07/9/05 jack
12/17/05 smith
8/20/06 john
9/10/06 jack
11/21/06 bob
and so on...
i want a formula to give me the most recent visit date for JOHN for example
many thanks