thanks for the helpful reply.

i do some experimentation while trying the solutions availed.

..CORRECTION THE row RANGES ARE
**W2:IQ2** payroll series number from max to min. (229 to 1)
**W11:IQ11** (values 0+ from sumproduct formula)down to row 300.
**J2:T2 (new ref series of values from 11 to 1)
**J11:T11 (the formula to reside here to be filled 'til row 300.

farther explanation.

a) look for the number different values within the range W11:IQ11 (values
are the milestone changes made on salary rates) meaning the rates shown are
only those that are different.
b) Once the values appear in, let's say, <W11,AA11,IG11, then, only 3
positive values appear within range W11:IQ11. The rest of the values are all
zero(0).
c) The range J5:T5, will contain formula to enumerate these 3 values (one
value per cell) and *include* the intersecting payroll series number from
W2:IQ2.
4) J2:T2 (11,10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1) contains the series number of <"n"th
occurence (something like *small*).

after some configuration, i tried to merged the two formulas.
--------------
i.e. on J11 copy paste towards T11
=TEXT(IF(ISERROR(SMALL($W11:$IQ11,229-COUNTIF($W11:$IQ11,"0")+J$2)),"",SMALL($W11:$IQ11 ,229-COUNTIF($W11:$IQ11,"0")+J$2)),"[$‚¡-140A]#,##0.00_);([$‚¡-140A]#,##0.00)")&"
Start onPlan#
"&TEXT(INDEX($W$2:$IQ11,1,MATCH(IF(ISERROR(SMALL($ W11:$IQ11,229-COUNTIF($W11:$IQ11,"0")+J$2)),"",SMALL($W11:$IQ11 ,229-COUNTIF($W11:$IQ11,"0")+J$2)),$W11:$IQ11,0)),"0")
--------------
so based on example e.g. on (b):
W11,AA11,IG11 has positive values (salary rates).
so the formulated results for range J11:T11 is ....
(#N/A,#N/A,#N/A,#N/A,#N/A,#N/A,#N/A,#N/A,"*text for W11*","*text for
AA11*","*text for IG11*")

PROBLEM: I now have the correct 3 "text results" yet i cannot eliminate the
#N/A into something like "-".

The sense is to prepare the summary milestone sheet of salary rates
adjustments (J:T) been made or *not had not yet been made*.

thanks a lot
regards,
driller
--
*****
birds of the same feather flock together..