Would like cell data to be more editable and work with formula

[Tony O]

The Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that I am using has three fields of
data in each cell in column b.
A sample cell looks like this:

Year: 2008

Once you click it, you see more information:
Year: 2008
Model: 1234
Quantity: 5

Each cell in cell B mentioned above, has to match up with a code in
column a.
For example, the cell above would match this value in column a:
basic

The way they have each cell in column B, you have to click on the cell
to get all the data. It
is difficult to get to the "quantity" amount (you can't use the arrow
keys). Maybe the cell has been merged
to get all the information in.

Another group types in their quantity available in column J.

1) I would like to compare the quantity requested in column B to match
up with the quantity available in column J. Something like "if
quantityb2=j2. . ." in column K
2) I would like to make the value in column B more user-friendly, so I
don't have to click on cell B2 to see all of the values, especially
the "quantity".
3) Not every cell in the B column has the "year, model, quantity"
format. For example, some need to be listed as "out of production",
so I can't have all the cells formatted this way.

Please advise.

 

[Gord Dibben]

My advice.................... before you go any further.........break up the
single cells' data into individual cells.

Much easier to work with when comparing data like quantities.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[Clif McIrvin]

Yowzers. I'm guessing either merged cells, a multi-line cell with a
fixed row height (and word wrap off) or a long value in a cell with a
fixed row height (and word wrap on). In any case, the setup seems to be
quite deliberate, as in my (limited) experience Excel would not default
to such a format.

Is this a workbook created by someone else that you must work with? Is
it possible, as Gord suggested, to change the structure of the
worksheet?

Hmm. I just attempted to re-create the behavior you describe (xl2010)
and I'm not getting there. Is there macro code running behind this
worksheet?

I think we need more information to be able to provide useful advice.

Clif