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ct08's avatar
ct08
Copper Contributor
Jan 07, 2026

Complex equations with multiple input values

So

I'm looking to create a sheet that will do some food math for me. I struggle with excel and I cannot for the life of me figure out how to do this- the online tutorials just make it worse. I'm in vetmed and I know a lot about animal medicine but technology escapes me.

I need a sheet that I can input the following info: pt weight (ideal) and illness factor (decided by the DVM on the case) and have it generate the RER (resting energy requirement) for each patient. 

Once this is generated, I need to be able to take the RER number and have it calculate how many cans per day each pet needs (based on the kcal per can of each diet). 

Is there a way that I can preprogram all the diets we offer into the sheet (like if someone types in a shorthand code, the kcal per can will populate)?

Any insight would be helpful at this point. 

Thanks!

excel
Formulas and Functions

2 Replies

  • ct08's avatar
    ct08
    Copper Contributor
    Jan 08, 2026

    Hello, 
    Thanks for your response, and sorry for not providing much info- I'm still pretty new to this. I'm using Microsoft 365 so I'm assuming that means it's Excel 365, and I'm using it on a Windows laptop. 

     

    I was able to figure out how to do the "= cell number +-*/ cell number" thing so the actual calculation problem has been solved. I'll take a look at the sheet you've attached here and come back with any additional questions. Thank you so much for your help!

    -Chris

    PS. I'm loving the "doggus slobberus" bit!

  • SnowMan55's avatar
    SnowMan55
    Bronze Contributor
    Jan 08, 2026


    That's not a lot of information you are giving us.  For starters, which Excel product (Excel 365, Excel 2019, etc.) are you using, on which platform (Windows, Mac, the web...)?  Sometimes, the solution requires an Excel function or feature that is not present in older products.

    The Excel formulas will depend on a number of factors; see the Calculations worksheet in the attached* file for my guesses.  Collecting those factors into one sheet, separate from the reference data, makes things clearer.
    And without further information, I will assume that a larger Illness Factor should result in a larger MER.  (I multiply the RER by the Illness Factor to get the MER.)

    There should be no reason for the users to enter a shorthand notation for the food product; selection from a dropdown list of the product names (possibly including container sizes) should be made available.  Excel's Data Validation feature allows this.  If any of your offered diets involve multiple food products, some design changes would probably be needed.

    But this should give you a start, and help you develop ideas for the design.  Read the _Info worksheet for more information and references to documentation/tutorials.

     

    * The "attached" file might not be attached.  Following a change to this forum's software in November, files that we attach frequently disappear.  If the attach does not work, I will put the file on OneDrive and post a link to it.

    Edit: retrying the attach

    Edit #2: That did not work, so get the workbook here: 2026-01-07 CT08 feeding calcns.xlsx

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