Return entry in column above/below cell

[TheRobsterUK]

Hi,

I need to find a way of returning the cell values that are directly
above and below a specific cell. For example, suppose I have the
following list in column A:

dogs
cats
fish
mice

There is another cell (say cell B1) in which the user inputs one of the
items in the list and then another 2 cells (say B2 and B3) that return
the entries above and below the user-input entry i.e. in this case, the
user input "cats" and so in cell B2 would be displayed "dogs" and in
cell B3 "fish".

I cannot get this to work however. I have tried several functions (e.g.
HLOOKUP) but it does not work as intended. Can anyone give me any
help/advice?

Many thanks
-Rob

 

[Ron Coderre]

Try this:

With your list of animals is in Column A (no repeats) beginning in A2
A1: Animals
A2 through A???: List of animals

B1: (User inputs an animal)
or...even better
Select B1
Data>Data Validation
\Allow: List
\Source: A2: (end of your list)

For item before selection:
B2: =INDEX(A:A,MATCH(B1,A:A,0)-1,1)

For item after selection:
B3: =INDEX(A:A,MATCH(B1,A:A,0)+1,1)

Does that help?

••••••••••
Regards,
Ron

 

[TheRobsterUK]

Hi Ron,

Yes I got it working with some slight adaptations to your suggestion.
Many thanks for the response.

-Rob