date in merged cells

[labatyd]

Have the date in the format of Month xx, 2006 in a set of six merged cells.
In another set of six merged cells I have a later date.

Is in not possible to extract the difference in days into a third set of
merged cells. Works fine and displays nicely if the dates are in single wide
cells but doesn't seem to work from merged cells. :-(

Eventually the sheet will contain about 50 counter readings which are taken
30 to 60 days apart. We need to have it calculate the interval in days and
the number of operations per day for each piece of equipment.

(I've used narrow column widths since lower down would be boxes where a
single digit or check mark can be placed to indicate levels or good or poor
status condition).

Is there a better way to layout out the spread sheet.

TIA

 

[Bernard Liengme]

How is it 'not possible" ? What happens with =F1-D1 when both cells are
merged with empty neighbours
I was able to do it - I did have to format the cell with the formula to
General
It even worked when the formula was in a merged cell
I use XL2003; what version do you have?
best wishes

 

[Guest]

Are you sure your dates are formatted correctly? Check under Format -> Cells
to make sure they are set to custom format mmmm dd, yyyy. When creating the
formula to calculate the date difference you only reference the top left cell
of the merged range, e.g. six cells merged across from A1 would not be
referenced as A1:F1 but just as A1 so you can use a formula something like
G1-A1 to work out the difference between the dates (don't forget to format
the result as a number).

Andrea Jones

 

[Guest]

Working with data in merged cells sometimes creates problems. This seems to
be one of those times.

I'd recommend un-merging them and then choose the group again but this time
use Format | Cells and on the [Alignment] tab, under Horizontal Alignment,
choose the 'Center Across Selection' option. Your date will have plenty of
room to be displayed and your date difference formulas should work for you.
Just do everything in the left-most cell of the group, such as date
formatting and as the reference for date computations.

 

[labatyd]

Thanks group.

Aaahhhh, so simple. Got it. Works fine now. And looks the way I wanted it.

I'll keep plugging away at this project and most likely be back. <big grin>

Working with data in merged cells sometimes creates problems. This seems
to
be one of those times.

I'd recommend un-merging them and then choose the group again but this
time
use Format | Cells and on the [Alignment] tab, under Horizontal Alignment,
choose the 'Center Across Selection' option. Your date will have plenty
of
room to be displayed and your date difference formulas should work for
you.
Just do everything in the left-most cell of the group, such as date
formatting and as the reference for date computations.

Have the date in the format of Month xx, 2006 in a set of six merged
cells.
In another set of six merged cells I have a later date.

<cut>