Not sure what formula is needed?

[sho]

I have Data Validation list in B9 that refers to months
Jan to Dec held in cells N2:N13. Which ever month is
picked from this list it will automatically populate cell
B5.

I then want to be able to insert the previous 6 months to
this month in cells C5:C10. e.g. if April is in B5 then
Mar, Feb, Jan, Dec, Nov, Oct should be in cells c5:c10.

I would also like to populate a different cell (B16) with
the month after the month stated in B9 e.g. if April is in
B9 then B16 should show May.

Is this possible? I have tried a lookup formula but can't
get it to work.

 

[Jason Morin]

Try this in C5 and fill down to C10:

=TEXT(DATE(YEAR($B$5&"-01"),MONTH($B$5&"-01")-(ROW()-4),DAY
($B$5&"-01")),"mmm")

HTH
Jason
Atlanta, GA

 

[sho]

That works thanks! but how is it actually calculating? as
it seems if I change the sections "-01" to any other
number it still works?

 

[Jason Morin]

All I'm trying to do is convert the 3 letter month to an
actual date in XL. However, the year doesn't matter, just
the month. So I could have used "-01", "-04", or whatever.

Jason