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#1
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working with IF statements
Hello, I have a function which checks for data in a certain field if data is in the field I want my function to do nothing and the value currently in the field to stay there, however; if there is not data in the field I would like a random number to be chose. The problem I am having is when the function is false I don't know how to just keep the same value when I do it like this: =IF(A3="",(RANDBETWEEN(1,E2))) it fills the field with FALSE, if the value is false there will be data in this field already and I want that data to remain there. Any idea? Thanks for your help!! -- matty_g ------------------------------------------------------------------------ matty_g's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=23954 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=375800 |
#2
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=IF(A3="",RANDBETWEEN(1,E2),A3) should work note, no bracket in front of RANDBETWEEN -- Greetings from New Zealand Bill K "matty_g" wrote in message ... Hello, I have a function which checks for data in a certain field if data is in the field I want my function to do nothing and the value currently in the field to stay there, however; if there is not data in the field I would like a random number to be chose. The problem I am having is when the function is false I don't know how to just keep the same value when I do it like this: =IF(A3="",(RANDBETWEEN(1,E2))) it fills the field with FALSE, if the value is false there will be data in this field already and I want that data to remain there. Any idea? Thanks for your help!! -- matty_g ------------------------------------------------------------------------ matty_g's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=23954 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=375800 |
#3
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Good evening matty_g I think your problem here is nothing more sinister than a slight syntax hiccup. The =IF() function must always have the condition plus two arguments (what to do if TRUE, and what to do if FALSE) - you were missing the FALSE argument so Excel just filled in the best it could rather than give you an error. Your slightly rewritten formula should help out. =IF(A3="",RANDBETWEEN(1,E2),A3) HTH DominicB -- dominicb ------------------------------------------------------------------------ dominicb's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=18932 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=375800 |
#4
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Thanks for your help, however I am still having the problem with this fact, when the value is false there is already a value in the field. I would like to just keep this value and do nothing to it. That is my problem. something like this =IF(A2="",RANDBETWEEN(1,E2),'-do nothing-') do nothing mean just leave it the way it is. I was also trying to figure out how to possibly save the value to a variable then display the variable if false. Not sure if this is possible. I have some programming experience but not much excel. It was just a thought due to the programming I have done. anyways any help would be greatly appreciated Thanks again -- matty_g ------------------------------------------------------------------------ matty_g's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=23954 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=375800 |
#5
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Hi, thanks the problem is that when false, there is already a value in that field which I would just like to keep there, not get one from anywhere else. Like this: =IF(A3="", RANDBETWEEN(1,E2), '-do nothing-') meaning just leave the current value there. I don't know how to accomplish this. I was looking at the possiblity of some how saving the value into some sort of variable. I have some programming experience but not a whole lot with excel so this was just a thought. Any help would be greatly appreciated! -- matty_g ------------------------------------------------------------------------ matty_g's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=23954 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=375800 |
#6
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Matty
I read your conditions as........... if a3 is empty take a random number between 1 and e2 If a3 is not empty, return a3. The functions in our replies =IF(A3="",RANDBETWEEN(1,E2),A3) should do that. "the problem is that when false....." which cell is false? Where are you entering the function? In cell e3? -- Greetings from New Zealand Bill K "matty_g" wrote in message ... Hi, thanks the problem is that when false, there is already a value in that field which I would just like to keep there, not get one from anywhere else. Like this: =IF(A3="", RANDBETWEEN(1,E2), '-do nothing-') meaning just leave the current value there. I don't know how to accomplish this. I was looking at the possiblity of some how saving the value into some sort of variable. I have some programming experience but not a whole lot with excel so this was just a thought. Any help would be greatly appreciated! -- matty_g ------------------------------------------------------------------------ matty_g's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=23954 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=375800 |
#7
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the data should go into f2...but when I put f2 for the value if false it gives me an error. But if it is false I just want the value in f2 to remain the same -- matty_g ------------------------------------------------------------------------ matty_g's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=23954 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=375800 |
#8
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One thing I see missing from the above posts is that, because you are setting up a circular reference, you need to turn iteration on via the Options dialog. Then enter the formula f2=IF(a3="",RAND....,f2) HTH -- MrShorty ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MrShorty's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=22181 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=375800 |
#9
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perfect!!! thanks a lot, iteration being off was the problem! -- matty_g ------------------------------------------------------------------------ matty_g's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=23954 View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=375800 |
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