Try it like this...

=IF(COUNT(B236),IF(B2361,1,B236),"")

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Nick S" <Nick wrote in message
...
Dear All, I have a panel of data with some blank cells (absent
observations).
If I replace the blanks with anything ("""", #NA etc.) and then run the IF
command (say, IF(B2361,1,B236)), I get a one where the blank cells used
to
be. I want the value to remain blank, instead of recording a false
'observation'. Can anyone help?

Nick