Too many arguments, IF only I could sort it out
 

excel 97

Hi,

I am using the value returned from a drop down list to control which
formula is used to return a value in a cell.

There are 4 options on the list: Alpha, Beta, Alpha Infinite Depth and
Beta Infinite Depth.

Here is how I'm trying to compose the argument:

=IF(A24="Alpha",H2*SQRT(J2/F2),IF(A24="Beta",H2*SQRT(J2/999)),
IF(A24="Alpha Infinite Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2), IF(A24="Beta Infinite
Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2))))

this returns the "too many arguments" error message

*DUH! * You say, as you can only compose 3 at a time.

Well thats what I don't quite understand, even after reading as much of
the excel help, Microsoft Knowledge base and rooting around various
threads/tutorials.

I can't get my head round how to arrange it. :confused:

this works:
=IF(A24="Alpha",H2*SQRT(J2/F2),IF(A24="Beta",H2*SQRT(J2/999)))

this doesn't :
=IF(A24="Alpha",H2*SQRT(J2/F2),IF(A24="Beta",H2*SQRT(J2/999)),
IF(A24="Alpha Infinite Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2)))


Can you explain it like you would to a 4 year old? :)

here it is laid out:

=IF(A24="Alpha",H2*SQRT(J2/F2)
IF(A24="Beta",H2*SQRT(J2/999))
IF(A24="Alpha Infinite Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2),
IF(A24="Beta Infinite Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2))))

thanks for any help, the logic of this escapes me.


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G_Chem
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Hi, I think you just have some of the brackets in the wrong place,

try this

=IF(A24="Alpha",H2*SQRT(J2/F2),IF(A24="Beta",H2*SQRT(J2/999),
IF(A24="Alpha Infinite Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2), IF(A24="Beta Infinite
Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2)))))

HTH.


--
greg7468


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G,

Nesting functions (like these IF's) gets messy. A more manageable way is to
use a VLOOKUP to find the result you want. Set up a table somewhere like
this:

Alpha | =H2*SQRT(J2/F2)
Beta | =H2*SQRT(J2/999)
Alpha Infinite Depth | etc.
Beta Infinite Depth |

Now in the original cell (where you want the result, use:

=VLOOKUP(A24, Table, 2, FALSE)

Table is a reference to the table. It might look like A100:B103. Or it
could be a named range. Like "Table." It could be in some hidden rows or
column, or even on another sheet. Untested.
--
Earl Kiosterud
www.smokeylake.com/
-------------------------------------------

"G_Chem" wrote in
message ...

excel 97

Hi,

I am using the value returned from a drop down list to control which
formula is used to return a value in a cell.

There are 4 options on the list: Alpha, Beta, Alpha Infinite Depth and
Beta Infinite Depth.

Here is how I'm trying to compose the argument:

=IF(A24="Alpha",H2*SQRT(J2/F2),IF(A24="Beta",H2*SQRT(J2/999)),
IF(A24="Alpha Infinite Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2), IF(A24="Beta Infinite
Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2))))

this returns the "too many arguments" error message

*DUH! * You say, as you can only compose 3 at a time.

Well thats what I don't quite understand, even after reading as much of
the excel help, Microsoft Knowledge base and rooting around various
threads/tutorials.

I can't get my head round how to arrange it. :confused:

this works:
=IF(A24="Alpha",H2*SQRT(J2/F2),IF(A24="Beta",H2*SQRT(J2/999)))

this doesn't :
=IF(A24="Alpha",H2*SQRT(J2/F2),IF(A24="Beta",H2*SQRT(J2/999)),
IF(A24="Alpha Infinite Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2)))


Can you explain it like you would to a 4 year old? :)

here it is laid out:

=IF(A24="Alpha",H2*SQRT(J2/F2)
IF(A24="Beta",H2*SQRT(J2/999))
IF(A24="Alpha Infinite Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2),
IF(A24="Beta Infinite Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2))))

thanks for any help, the logic of this escapes me.


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G_Chem
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Try ";" as list separator instead of ","
It works in my worksheet, your formula is true

JoyS


"G_Chem" wrote:


excel 97

Hi,

I am using the value returned from a drop down list to control which
formula is used to return a value in a cell.

There are 4 options on the list: Alpha, Beta, Alpha Infinite Depth and
Beta Infinite Depth.

Here is how I'm trying to compose the argument:

=IF(A24="Alpha",H2*SQRT(J2/F2),IF(A24="Beta",H2*SQRT(J2/999)),
IF(A24="Alpha Infinite Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2), IF(A24="Beta Infinite
Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2))))

this returns the "too many arguments" error message

*DUH! * You say, as you can only compose 3 at a time.

Well thats what I don't quite understand, even after reading as much of
the excel help, Microsoft Knowledge base and rooting around various
threads/tutorials.

I can't get my head round how to arrange it. :confused:

this works:
=IF(A24="Alpha",H2*SQRT(J2/F2),IF(A24="Beta",H2*SQRT(J2/999)))

this doesn't :
=IF(A24="Alpha",H2*SQRT(J2/F2),IF(A24="Beta",H2*SQRT(J2/999)),
IF(A24="Alpha Infinite Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2)))


Can you explain it like you would to a 4 year old? :)

here it is laid out:

=IF(A24="Alpha",H2*SQRT(J2/F2)
IF(A24="Beta",H2*SQRT(J2/999))
IF(A24="Alpha Infinite Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2),
IF(A24="Beta Infinite Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2))))

thanks for any help, the logic of this escapes me.


--
G_Chem
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G,

Move one of the ")" following "J2/999" to the end of the formula.
So...
=IF(A24="Alpha",H2*SQRT(J2/F2),IF(A24="Beta",H2*SQRT(J2/999),
IF(A24="Alpha Infinite Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2),IF(A24="Beta Infinite
Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2)))))

Jim Cone
San Francisco, USA



"G_Chem" wrote in
message ...
excel 97
Hi,
I am using the value returned from a drop down list to control which
formula is used to return a value in a cell.
There are 4 options on the list: Alpha, Beta, Alpha Infinite Depth and
Beta Infinite Depth.
Here is how I'm trying to compose the argument:
=IF(A24="Alpha",H2*SQRT(J2/F2),IF(A24="Beta",H2*SQRT(J2/999)),
IF(A24="Alpha Infinite Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2), IF(A24="Beta Infinite
Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2))))

this returns the "too many arguments" error message

*DUH! * You say, as you can only compose 3 at a time.
Well thats what I don't quite understand, even after reading as much of
the excel help, Microsoft Knowledge base and rooting around various
threads/tutorials.
I can't get my head round how to arrange it. :confused:
this works:
=IF(A24="Alpha",H2*SQRT(J2/F2),IF(A24="Beta",H2*SQRT(J2/999)))
this doesn't :
=IF(A24="Alpha",H2*SQRT(J2/F2),IF(A24="Beta",H2*SQRT(J2/999)),
IF(A24="Alpha Infinite Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2)))
Can you explain it like you would to a 4 year old? :)
here it is laid out:
=IF(A24="Alpha",H2*SQRT(J2/F2)
IF(A24="Beta",H2*SQRT(J2/999))
IF(A24="Alpha Infinite Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2),
IF(A24="Beta Infinite Depth",H2*SQRT(J2/H2))))
thanks for any help, the logic of this escapes me.
G_Chem

thanks greg7468

that's done it! :)


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