I have a formula that includes the expression "min(L2,M2)". I want to be able
to name columns L and M, and have those names used in the expression. The row
number is relative, so the formulas below are "min(l3,M3)", etc. (The formula
should be min($L2,$M2) to keep the column references absolute, but that
change does not seem to help my problem.)
How should I name the columns to be able to apply them, and what should the
formula look like when it is done? (I would guess the name would reference,
e.g. $M$M, but what then? The rows do not have names.)
Thanks!

=MIN(INDEX(colL,ROW()),INDEX(colM,ROW()))

--
HTH

Bob

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

"Jim Russell" wrote in message
...
I have a formula that includes the expression "min(L2,M2)". I want to be
able
to name columns L and M, and have those names used in the expression. The
row
number is relative, so the formulas below are "min(l3,M3)", etc. (The
formula
should be min($L2,$M2) to keep the column references absolute, but that
change does not seem to help my problem.)
How should I name the columns to be able to apply them, and what should
the
formula look like when it is done? (I would guess the name would
reference,
e.g. $M$M, but what then? The rows do not have names.)
Thanks!

I don't understand - why doesn't

=MIN($L2:$M2)

"seem to help (your) problem"?

What happens when you drag that formula down the column?

If you enter that in In article
,
Jim Russell wrote:

I have a formula that includes the expression "min(L2,M2)". I want to be able
to name columns L and M, and have those names used in the expression. The row
number is relative, so the formulas below are "min(l3,M3)", etc. (The formula
should be min($L2,$M2) to keep the column references absolute, but that
change does not seem to help my problem.)
How should I name the columns to be able to apply them, and what should the
formula look like when it is done? (I would guess the name would reference,
e.g. $M$M, but what then? The rows do not have names.)
Thanks!

I'll assume your range names are "Col_L" and "Col_M".

Try using a range intersection....something like this:
=MIN(Col_L 1:1,Col_M 1:1)

That formula returns the minimum of these two values:
The intersection of Col_L and row 1...which is L1
The intersection of Col_M and row 1...which is M1

Does that help?
Post back if you have more questions.
--------------------------

Regards,

Ron (XL2003, Win XP)
Microsoft MVP (Excel)



"Jim Russell" wrote in message ...
I have a formula that includes the expression "min(L2,M2)". I want to be able
to name columns L and M, and have those names used in the expression. The row
number is relative, so the formulas below are "min(l3,M3)", etc. (The formula
should be min($L2,$M2) to keep the column references absolute, but that
change does not seem to help my problem.)
How should I name the columns to be able to apply them, and what should the
formula look like when it is done? (I would guess the name would reference,
e.g. $M$M, but what then? The rows do not have names.)
Thanks!

"Bob Phillips" wrote:

=MIN(INDEX(colL,ROW()),INDEX(colM,ROW()))

....
Thanks. That does indeed work, but it does do some violence to the
readability of the formula. Interesting that "colM" (the range name by
itself) returns the single value for the same row as the formula, but putting
it in a MIN function does not work (e.g. MIN(colM,colL) -- that returns the
min value of all cells in the named ranges.

"JE McGimpsey" wrote:

I don't understand - why doesn't

=MIN($L2:$M2)

"seem to help (your) problem"?

What happens when you drag that formula down the column?

That works fine (either with or without the $ absolute reference indicator).
But I wanted to use a named range instead of L2 and M2. Bob Phillips
suggeation to use index and row() to force a point index into the named
ranges seems to do the trick, but I would rather it not be necessary.

If you're referencing cells in the same row as the formula....
still using ranges named: Col_L and Col_M, try this:

=MIN(+Col_L,+Col_M)

Does that help?
--------------------------

Regards,

Ron (XL2003, Win XP)
Microsoft MVP (Excel)


"Ron Coderre" wrote in message ...
I'll assume your range names are "Col_L" and "Col_M".

Try using a range intersection....something like this:
=MIN(Col_L 1:1,Col_M 1:1)

That formula returns the minimum of these two values:
The intersection of Col_L and row 1...which is L1
The intersection of Col_M and row 1...which is M1

Does that help?
Post back if you have more questions.
--------------------------

Regards,

Ron (XL2003, Win XP)
Microsoft MVP (Excel)



"Jim Russell" wrote in message ...
I have a formula that includes the expression "min(L2,M2)". I want to be able
to name columns L and M, and have those names used in the expression. The row
number is relative, so the formulas below are "min(l3,M3)", etc. (The formula
should be min($L2,$M2) to keep the column references absolute, but that
change does not seem to help my problem.)
How should I name the columns to be able to apply them, and what should the
formula look like when it is done? (I would guess the name would reference,
e.g. $M$M, but what then? The rows do not have names.)
Thanks!

I like that. The best part is that the formula (in my case "MIN(SO25 2:2,SO50
2:2)" is relative, e.g. it does increment the row reference when it is copied
down to subsequent rows.

"Ron Coderre" wrote:

I'll assume your range names are "Col_L" and "Col_M".

Try using a range intersection....something like this:
=MIN(Col_L 1:1,Col_M 1:1)

That formula returns the minimum of these two values:
The intersection of Col_L and row 1...which is L1
The intersection of Col_M and row 1...which is M1

Does that help?
Post back if you have more questions.
--------------------------

Regards,

Ron (XL2003, Win XP)
Microsoft MVP (Excel)



"Jim Russell" wrote in message ...
I have a formula that includes the expression "min(L2,M2)". I want to be able
to name columns L and M, and have those names used in the expression. The row
number is relative, so the formulas below are "min(l3,M3)", etc. (The formula
should be min($L2,$M2) to keep the column references absolute, but that
change does not seem to help my problem.)
How should I name the columns to be able to apply them, and what should the
formula look like when it is done? (I would guess the name would reference,
e.g. $M$M, but what then? The rows do not have names.)
Thanks!

One possible alternative:

Select a cell in Row 1. Choose Insert/Name/Define:

Names in workbook: LM
Refers to: !$L1:$M1

Click OK

Then use

=MIN(LM)


In article ,
Jim Russell wrote:

That works fine (either with or without the $ absolute reference indicator).
But I wanted to use a named range instead of L2 and M2. Bob Phillips
suggeation to use index and row() to force a point index into the named
ranges seems to do the trick, but I would rather it not be necessary.

Yes, that works too!
Next question...Why?

"Ron Coderre" wrote:

If you're referencing cells in the same row as the formula....
still using ranges named: Col_L and Col_M, try this:

=MIN(+Col_L,+Col_M)

Does that help?
--------------------------

Regards,

Ron (XL2003, Win XP)
Microsoft MVP (Excel)


"Ron Coderre" wrote in message ...
I'll assume your range names are "Col_L" and "Col_M".

Try using a range intersection....something like this:
=MIN(Col_L 1:1,Col_M 1:1)

That formula returns the minimum of these two values:
The intersection of Col_L and row 1...which is L1
The intersection of Col_M and row 1...which is M1

Does that help?
Post back if you have more questions.
--------------------------

Regards,

Ron (XL2003, Win XP)
Microsoft MVP (Excel)



"Jim Russell" wrote in message ...
I have a formula that includes the expression "min(L2,M2)". I want to be able
to name columns L and M, and have those names used in the expression. The row
number is relative, so the formulas below are "min(l3,M3)", etc. (The formula
should be min($L2,$M2) to keep the column references absolute, but that
change does not seem to help my problem.)
How should I name the columns to be able to apply them, and what should the
formula look like when it is done? (I would guess the name would reference,
e.g. $M$M, but what then? The rows do not have names.)
Thanks!

Some functions (MIN, MAX, SUM, etc) are designed to work with ranges. Consequently, they default to reading the entire referenced
range. However, when an arithmetic operator is used on the range, Excel tries to find the intersection of the current row/col and
the range.

Example:
A1: 10
A2: 20
A3: 30

B2: =SUM(A1:A3)
returns 60

However, B2: =SUM(+A1:A3)
returns 20

AND....B10: =SUM(+A1:A3)
returns #VALUE! because there is NO interesection of Row_10 and A1:A3

Does that help?
--------------------------

Regards,

Ron (XL2003, Win XP)
Microsoft MVP (Excel)


"Jim Russell" wrote in message ...
Yes, that works too!
Next question...Why?

"Ron Coderre" wrote:

If you're referencing cells in the same row as the formula....
still using ranges named: Col_L and Col_M, try this:

=MIN(+Col_L,+Col_M)

Does that help?
--------------------------

Regards,

Ron (XL2003, Win XP)
Microsoft MVP (Excel)


"Ron Coderre" wrote in message ...
I'll assume your range names are "Col_L" and "Col_M".

Try using a range intersection....something like this:
=MIN(Col_L 1:1,Col_M 1:1)

That formula returns the minimum of these two values:
The intersection of Col_L and row 1...which is L1
The intersection of Col_M and row 1...which is M1

Does that help?
Post back if you have more questions.
--------------------------

Regards,

Ron (XL2003, Win XP)
Microsoft MVP (Excel)



"Jim Russell" wrote in message
...
I have a formula that includes the expression "min(L2,M2)". I want to be able
to name columns L and M, and have those names used in the expression. The row
number is relative, so the formulas below are "min(l3,M3)", etc. (The formula
should be min($L2,$M2) to keep the column references absolute, but that
change does not seem to help my problem.)
How should I name the columns to be able to apply them, and what should the
formula look like when it is done? (I would guess the name would reference,
e.g. $M$M, but what then? The rows do not have names.)
Thanks!

If you use an array in a non-array function, it just returns the first
value. If you use it in an array function, such as MIN, the whole array is
returned (and processed by that function). That's the way it works.
--
HTH

Bob

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

"Jim Russell" wrote in message
...


"Bob Phillips" wrote:

=MIN(INDEX(colL,ROW()),INDEX(colM,ROW()))

...
Thanks. That does indeed work, but it does do some violence to the
readability of the formula. Interesting that "colM" (the range name by
itself) returns the single value for the same row as the formula, but
putting
it in a MIN function does not work (e.g. MIN(colM,colL) -- that returns
the
min value of all cells in the named ranges.

Yes, thanks. From what little I rember of basic arithmetic (you know, before
the advanced topics like gozintas and take-aways) +x = x (at least for
positive values of x). I'm glad that Microsoft decided to advance the state
of the art!

"Ron Coderre" wrote:

Some functions (MIN, MAX, SUM, etc) are designed to work with ranges. Consequently, they default to reading the entire referenced
range. However, when an arithmetic operator is used on the range, Excel tries to find the intersection of the current row/col and
the range.

Example:
A1: 10
A2: 20
A3: 30

B2: =SUM(A1:A3)
returns 60

However, B2: =SUM(+A1:A3)
returns 20

AND....B10: =SUM(+A1:A3)
returns #VALUE! because there is NO interesection of Row_10 and A1:A3

Does that help?
--------------------------

Regards,

Ron (XL2003, Win XP)
Microsoft MVP (Excel)


"Jim Russell" wrote in message ...
Yes, that works too!
Next question...Why?

"Ron Coderre" wrote:

If you're referencing cells in the same row as the formula....
still using ranges named: Col_L and Col_M, try this:

=MIN(+Col_L,+Col_M)

Does that help?
--------------------------

Regards,

Ron (XL2003, Win XP)
Microsoft MVP (Excel)


"Ron Coderre" wrote in message ...
I'll assume your range names are "Col_L" and "Col_M".

Try using a range intersection....something like this:
=MIN(Col_L 1:1,Col_M 1:1)

That formula returns the minimum of these two values:
The intersection of Col_L and row 1...which is L1
The intersection of Col_M and row 1...which is M1

Does that help?
Post back if you have more questions.
--------------------------

Regards,

Ron (XL2003, Win XP)
Microsoft MVP (Excel)



"Jim Russell" wrote in message
...
I have a formula that includes the expression "min(L2,M2)". I want to be able
to name columns L and M, and have those names used in the expression. The row
number is relative, so the formulas below are "min(l3,M3)", etc. (The formula
should be min($L2,$M2) to keep the column references absolute, but that
change does not seem to help my problem.)
How should I name the columns to be able to apply them, and what should the
formula look like when it is done? (I would guess the name would reference,
e.g. $M$M, but what then? The rows do not have names.)
Thanks!

Jim Russell wrote...
I have a formula that includes the expression "min(L2,M2)". I want
to be able to name columns L and M, and have those names used in
the expression. The row number is relative, so the formulas below are
"min(l3,M3)", etc. . . . How should I name the columns to be able to
apply them, and what should the formula look like when it is done?
....

If this isn't just a contrived, oversimplified example, so the two
columns in question really would be adjacent, the simplest, MOST
READABLE formula would be

=MIN($L2:$M2)

If you really, really have to use defined names, then in any cell in
the row in which you want the formula to reference L2:M2 define a name
like ColsLM referring to =$L2:$M2. Then use the formula

=MIN(ColsLM)

If you fill this formula down into the next row, in that row ColsLM
would refer to L3:M3 since ColLM is defined as column absolute but row
relative, so the row portion of the range reference changes as
formulas using the defined name are filled or copied into different
rows.

If you want two separate defined names, then in any cell in the row in
which uou want the formula to reference L2 and M2 define the names
ColL referring to =$L2 and ColM referring to =$M2. Then use the
formula

=MIN(ColL,ColM)

Excellent suggestion! Create a name referencing a single cell using column
absolute but row relative references. That works well and will get inserted
by Insert/Name/Apply. This is one of those "Why didn't I think of that?"
insights that help turn on the light bulb. In hindsight, I should have
created the name to match the original cell reference in the initial formula
and saved all my grief.

Thanks very much to all who replied with such helpful insights.

"Harlan Grove" wrote:

Jim Russell wrote...
I have a formula that includes the expression "min(L2,M2)". I want
to be able to name columns L and M, and have those names used in
the expression. The row number is relative, so the formulas below are
"min(l3,M3)", etc. . . . How should I name the columns to be able to
apply them, and what should the formula look like when it is done?
....

If this isn't just a contrived, oversimplified example, so the two
columns in question really would be adjacent, the simplest, MOST
READABLE formula would be

=MIN($L2:$M2)

If you really, really have to use defined names, then in any cell in
the row in which you want the formula to reference L2:M2 define a name
like ColsLM referring to =$L2:$M2. Then use the formula

=MIN(ColsLM)

If you fill this formula down into the next row, in that row ColsLM
would refer to L3:M3 since ColLM is defined as column absolute but row
relative, so the row portion of the range reference changes as
formulas using the defined name are filled or copied into different
rows.

If you want two separate defined names, then in any cell in the row in
which uou want the formula to reference L2 and M2 define the names
ColL referring to =$L2 and ColM referring to =$M2. Then use the
formula

=MIN(ColL,ColM)