I need a formula for a budget I am drafting with estimated and actual costs.
Column B is estimated costs, Column C is actual costs. I can SUM the numbers
in Column B for the estimated total cost but for the actual total cost I need
to SUM the numbers in Column B unless there is a number in Column C that is
different, in which case I would like to use the value in C for that item
instead of B.

I am Excel illiterate so thanks for any help!

=SUM(IF(B2:B20<C2:C20,C2:C20,B2:B20))

which is an array formula, it should be committed with Ctrl-Shift-Enter, not
just Enter.
Excel will automatically enclose the formula in braces (curly brackets), do
not try to do this manually.
When editing the formula, it must again be array-entered.

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HTH

Bob


(there's no email, no snail mail, but somewhere should be gmail in my addy)



"Sarah" wrote in message
...
I need a formula for a budget I am drafting with estimated and actual
costs.
Column B is estimated costs, Column C is actual costs. I can SUM the
numbers
in Column B for the estimated total cost but for the actual total cost I
need
to SUM the numbers in Column B unless there is a number in Column C that
is
different, in which case I would like to use the value in C for that item
instead of B.

I am Excel illiterate so thanks for any help!

Maybe

=SUMPRODUCT((B1:B100<C1:C100)*(C1:C100))+SUMPRODU CT((B1:B100=C1:C100)*(B1:B100))

Mike

"Sarah" wrote:

I need a formula for a budget I am drafting with estimated and actual costs.
Column B is estimated costs, Column C is actual costs. I can SUM the numbers
in Column B for the estimated total cost but for the actual total cost I need
to SUM the numbers in Column B unless there is a number in Column C that is
different, in which case I would like to use the value in C for that item
instead of B.

I am Excel illiterate so thanks for any help!

my previous (poor) effort works but this is better

=SUMPRODUCT((B1:B100<C1:C100)*(C1:C100))+(B1:B100 =C1:C100)*(B1:B100)

Mike

"Mike H" wrote:

Maybe

=SUMPRODUCT((B1:B100<C1:C100)*(C1:C100))+SUMPRODU CT((B1:B100=C1:C100)*(B1:B100))

Mike

"Sarah" wrote:

I need a formula for a budget I am drafting with estimated and actual costs.
Column B is estimated costs, Column C is actual costs. I can SUM the numbers
in Column B for the estimated total cost but for the actual total cost I need
to SUM the numbers in Column B unless there is a number in Column C that is
different, in which case I would like to use the value in C for that item
instead of B.

I am Excel illiterate so thanks for any help!

"Sarah" wrote:

I need a formula for a budget I am drafting with estimated and actual costs.
Column B is estimated costs, Column C is actual costs. I can SUM the numbers
in Column B for the estimated total cost but for the actual total cost I need
to SUM the numbers in Column B unless there is a number in Column C that is
different, in which case I would like to use the value in C for that item
instead of B.

I am Excel illiterate so thanks for any help!

=SUM(B1:B100)-SUMIF(C1:C100,"0",B1:B100)+SUM(C1:C100)

the above range formula will work if you have blank cells in column C

hold down control and shift and then press enter to enter a range formula