Excel IF "formula" - SUGGESTION

[Lin Kypta]

Please consider this:
I often need a "do nothing" option in the IF statement. As follows:
IF(m=1,income,*) Where * means DO NOTHING.
I often use a circular reference as follows and it works ok probably because
the "circle" will be super short. As follows:
At the cell D3: =IF(m=1,iincome,D3) If m<>1, this will cause the
original contents of D3 to be removed and then put right back again (into D3)
so it does in effect provide the "do nothing" feature. However, it also will
cause the "circular reference" message boxes to pop up every time Excel goes
to take the D3 option. Please consider this feature - or if it already
exists, please advise.
And many thanks
Lin

 

[Rick Rothstein]

I am confused by your question. You are using worksheet formula syntax.
IF(,,), but you appear to have mixed in some VBA syntax, m=1, as well. On
top of that, you have posted to a programming newsgroup which would seem to
suggest this is supposed to be VBA code. As for your described problem, I
wouldn't expect it to be a problem in the VBA world, but your question
doesn't make sense to me if it is actually a worksheet formula question.
With respect to that last statement, my question would be "What is in D3...
a formula (as you show) or a value; and if it is a formula, how would there
be any value in D3 to be left alone?". Can you clarify your question for us?

 

[Lin Kypta]

Hey Rick ...
Many thanks for your quick response. I have to leave shortly to teaach a
class, so I will only have time for brief right now ... more after 2200 hrs
(PST) this evening.
In the example I gave you, I chose m=1 as th e condition to be evaluaated by
the IF command. In the project I am on, it is a symbolic adr which refers to
the month number. The month number is on sheet 1 and the operator has access
to the month number. He can insert a month number that is earlier than the
current month in which case IF command that we are talking about (on sheet 3
and again on sheet 4) will plant info in D3 (for example) which means he has
overwritten Aprils data with data intended for May (for example) ... and, of
course if the overwrite occurs, Aprils data will be gone for good ... can't
afford that. This is an ordinary excel program and I have used the
"overwrite" limit several time before and it does the job - except that my
people complain about circular messages that come up. (I fully understand
the circular problem - I am a rusty assembly language programmer ....)
Lin

 

[hard2figure]

I agree this would be a VERY useful addition