Dates are the number of whole days since 12/31/1899 (or 1903 if using the
1904 date system). You can array-enter a formula like one of these, using
Ctrl-Shift-Enter:

=MIN(IF(A1:D10<"",A1:D10))
=MIN(IF(A1:D100,A1:D10))
=MIN(IF(A1:D1010000,A1:D10))

One of those should work.


HTH,
Bernie
MS Excel MVP


<Peter Krogsten wrote in message ...
How then do I get around the problem if dates are not nicely linend up,
but placed f.inst every 3'rd row? Or in the example the oldest of all
cells in the area A1 to B3 ?

Another problem I fight with is that if I use the "SMALL" function it
chokes if I try to omit "zero dates" - 00-01-1900 or 1904. If the list
only have one of these, I can omit by the parameter SMALL A1:A20;1 which
gives me the secondsmallest value, but if there are two of these I must
replace ;1 by ;2 giving me the thirdsmallest value, and as these sheets
are updated form outside DB's, I never know how many dates I have.

How do I fix that?



Fred Smith wrote:

Find Earliest Date
08-May-08

=min(a2,b2)

Regards,
Fred.

Previous Posts In This Thread:

On Thursday, May 08, 2008 12:42 AM
Elain wrote:

Find Earliest Date
Hello,

I have 2 dates, not in any order. I would like to create a formula to give
me the earliest date of the 2.

Example:

A B C
1 Date1 Date2 Result/Answer
2 4/20/08 1/20/08 1/20/08
3 2/28/08 5/10/08 2/28/08
4 5/7/08 2/14/08 2/14/08

I thank you in advanced for your continued support.
--
Respectfully... Elaine

On Thursday, May 08, 2008 12:46 AM
Fred Smith wrote:

Find Earliest Date
=min(a2,b2)

Regards,
Fred.

On Thursday, May 08, 2008 12:48 AM
T. Valko wrote:

Find Earliest Date
=MIN(A2:B2)

Copy down as needed.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP

On Thursday, May 08, 2008 12:58 AM
Elain wrote:

I can't believe it!
I cannot believe it! Here I am making it more difficult than it is.

Fred Smith & T. Valko both of you are the best.

My "humble" thank you to both of you.

Elaine
--
"T. Valko" wrote:

On Thursday, May 08, 2008 1:27 AM
T. Valko wrote:

You're welcome!
You're welcome!

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


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