=IF(AND(C2="",D2=""),"",IF(D2C2,D2,C2))
In a few cases, C2 comes up as later when it shouldn't.

It could be that sometimes what's in C2 is a TEXT string that looks like a
date. If D2 is a true Excel date, which is really just a number formatted to
look like a date, and C2 is a TEXT string that looks like a date then the
result will be the value of C2.

In Excel a TEXT value will *always* evaluate to be greater than any numeric
number.

This formula will test and make sure there are 2 true Excel dates entered.
If there aren't then the result will be blank.

=IF(COUNT(C2,D2)<2,"",MAX(C2,D2))

If the formula returns a blank but it looks like you have 2 dates entered
that tells you one or both of your dates are TEXT strings and are not true
Excel dates.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"PAL" wrote in message
...
I have 2 columns w/ dates, copied over from a different spreadsheet. I am
trying to get the latter of the two dates to appear in a third column.
Sometimes there is no date, so the field is blank.

To find the latter date, I am using the formula:

=IF(AND(C2="",D2=""),"",IF(D2C2,D2,C2))

In a few cases, C2 comes up as later when it shouldn't.

Ideas appreciated. Thanks.