If the dates (if any are entered) just happen to be in ascending order:

=IF(COUNT(A1:J1),MIN(A1:J1),"")

Format as Date

If the dates are random try this array formula** :

=IF(COUNT(A1:J1),INDEX(A1:J1,MATCH(TRUE,ISNUMBER(A 1:J1),0)),"")

Format as Date

** array formulas need to be entered using the key combination of
CTRL,SHIFT,ENTER (not just ENTER). Hold down both the CTRL key and the SHIFT
key then hit ENTER.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Pleasehelp via OfficeKB.com" <u27204@uwe wrote in message
news:953df1a279d74@uwe...
I have a spreadsheet with 24 months across the columns. The rows contain
customer names. The cells contain data beginning with the date that
amounts
were transferred into the department. Is there a function that will allow
me
to look across the columns and return the first date that is populated? I
tried to use a conditional if statement, but the number of periods are
greater than the number of conditions allowed?

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Message posted via http://www.officekb.com