In a data file I just received, many blank fields show a single-quotation
mark in the formula. The <<if statement does not recognize these fields as
blank. I have tried to 'find and replace' the marks using a search for <<'
and also for <<~' both without success. How can I fix these fields, in
bulk, so they behave like blanks?

try
=if(or(a1="",a1=" "),1,2)

--
Don Guillett
SalesAid Software

"wdanner" wrote in message
...
In a data file I just received, many blank fields show a single-quotation
mark in the formula. The <<if statement does not recognize these fields
as
blank. I have tried to 'find and replace' the marks using a search for
<<'
and also for <<~' both without success. How can I fix these fields, in
bulk, so they behave like blanks?

Those cells may have contained empty strings ( "" ), that were copied,
and pasted as values. This leaves a remnant in the cell, that is
displayed as a apostrophe, when you turn on ToolsOptions, Transition
tab, Transition Navigation.

To clear the cells, you can try the Edit/Replace technique that Dave
Peterson describes he

http://groups.google.ca/groups?&thre...B8F0%40msn.com


wdanner wrote:
In a data file I just received, many blank fields show a single-quotation
mark in the formula. The <<if statement does not recognize these fields as
blank. I have tried to 'find and replace' the marks using a search for <<'
and also for <<~' both without success. How can I fix these fields, in
bulk, so they behave like blanks?


--
Debra Dalgleish
Excel FAQ, Tips & Book List
http://www.contextures.com/tiptech.html