Try putting this formula in N2 and copying down...

=IF(COUNTA(B2:M2)0,INDEX(B$1:M$1,,SUMPRODUCT(MAX( (B2:L2="")*(C2:M2="Sold")*COLUMN(C2:M2)))-1),"")

Rick


"Mac" wrote in message
...
I have a problem I am trying to solve, which is hard to explain:

I have a spreadsheet that in row 1 starting in column B has the months:
Jan Feb Mar Apr ...........Dec (Columns B to M), in column N It has
"Last start selling"

The cells below the month show when the items have been sold.... in Column
N. I would like a formula in Column N (Last Start Selling) which keeps
on searching for the word Sold until the next column to the left is Blank.
The it stops and picks up the month from row 1 (this is the easy part...)


Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Last
start selling
Item1 Sold
Sold Sold Oct
Item 2 Sold Sold
Sold Dec
Item 3 Sold SoldSold Sold Jun

I hope this makes sense....

Thanks,
mac