Forum Discussion

Copper Contributor

Jun 30, 2023

Solved

Excel formula

Hello formula friends, I have a column (let's say column B) that I would like to create a formula for. The gist is: - if column A has a value, then column B should be empty. - if column A doe...

excel

Formulas and Functions

leoperdia
Jul 05, 2023
Hi LauraJackson This formula should works=IF(A2<>"";"";B2).

Regards
https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01cf0fc8446b00f44c

LauraJackson

Copper Contributor

Jun 30, 2023

Hi Leo,
Thank you for your help. For our purposes let's pretend B2's value is currently "purple".
If A2 is not blank, then populate B2 from A2.
If A2 is blank, then keep "purple".

leoperdia

Brass Contributor

Jul 01, 2023

Hi LauraJackson, what you want is impossible using just formulas, if you need to keep just two columns. This is Because you can not have a previous value and a formula in the same cell. At least to my best knowledge, you have these options:

1-Add a column C which has logic and expected results

A	B	C
Yellow	Purple	Yellow
White	Green	White
	Purple	Purple

2- Make it through VBA code, it is possible using the event change of the worksheet. But I'm not sure if you like to use code.

Let me know if the second option works for you and I'll tell you the code.

Regards

https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01cf0fc8446b00f44c

LauraJackson
Copper Contributor
Jul 05, 2023
Hi Leo,
Option 1 is perfect! I had not thought about it that way. Any thoughts on how I could create this formula in a column C?
- if column A has a value, then column C should be empty.
- if column A does NOT have a value, then column C should populate from column B.
- leoperdia
  Brass Contributor
  Jul 05, 2023
  Hi LauraJackson This formula should works=IF(A2<>"";"";B2).
  
  Regards
  https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01cf0fc8446b00f44c
  - LauraJackson
    Copper Contributor
    Jul 05, 2023
    That worked perfectly. Thank you very much Leo!