Forum Discussion
tickleyfeet29
Jan 27, 2020Copper Contributor
Please help! Tangled up in a nested IF formula for DnD!
HI everyone, first time posting - I've come here for some much needed help! I've spent days creating a ginormous excel workbook that randomly generates everything I need to run my Dungeons and Drago...
- Jan 28, 2020Is there a reason why this has to be a SINGLE formula?
I'd be surprised if there's any Excel manual out there that recommends writing formulas this long.
I KNOW that there are Excel manuals that warn AGAINST writing formulas this long.
It might be fun when it works, but as you've encountered here, formulas this long are opportunities for Orcs and all other kinds of creatures to get in and make mischief.
A suggestion: assuming each section (i.e., each INDEX section) works independently, and effectively, give each of them a cell of their own; and then use IF or CHOOSE based on race to go pick whichever of those cells is appropriate. Another way to describe this recommendation: use helper columns to break up a nearly unintelligible formula into discrete sections, and then extract the one you want.
mathetes
Jan 28, 2020Gold Contributor
Is there a reason why this has to be a SINGLE formula?
I'd be surprised if there's any Excel manual out there that recommends writing formulas this long.
I KNOW that there are Excel manuals that warn AGAINST writing formulas this long.
It might be fun when it works, but as you've encountered here, formulas this long are opportunities for Orcs and all other kinds of creatures to get in and make mischief.
A suggestion: assuming each section (i.e., each INDEX section) works independently, and effectively, give each of them a cell of their own; and then use IF or CHOOSE based on race to go pick whichever of those cells is appropriate. Another way to describe this recommendation: use helper columns to break up a nearly unintelligible formula into discrete sections, and then extract the one you want.
I'd be surprised if there's any Excel manual out there that recommends writing formulas this long.
I KNOW that there are Excel manuals that warn AGAINST writing formulas this long.
It might be fun when it works, but as you've encountered here, formulas this long are opportunities for Orcs and all other kinds of creatures to get in and make mischief.
A suggestion: assuming each section (i.e., each INDEX section) works independently, and effectively, give each of them a cell of their own; and then use IF or CHOOSE based on race to go pick whichever of those cells is appropriate. Another way to describe this recommendation: use helper columns to break up a nearly unintelligible formula into discrete sections, and then extract the one you want.
tickleyfeet29
Jan 28, 2020Copper Contributor
Then that's what I shall do! Thanks for taking the time to read through all my excessively long formula! 😅