time sheet drop down lists

[Steve]

I have set up a time sheet in which e6:e14 has a drop down list of times in
15 minute increments. This is the start time. I have g6:g14 with the same
setup only this would be end time. Is there a way that when I enter the
start time I will be able to enter the end time from the drop down list
without having to scroll down from the begining?

 

[Biff]

Hi!

So, there is a particular end time that corresponds to a particular start
time? If so, why not just use a lookup formula?

Biff

 

[Biff]

Hmmm....

After re-reading your post about 10 more times, I think I misunderstood the
first time around.

Why not just create separate lists. One that only contains the possible
start times and another that only contains the possible end times.

Biff

 

[Steve]

Hey Biff,
So much for being clear. Let me try again.
I need to enter a start time in the first column. Then when I enter the end
time I would like to be lazy and not half to scroll from the top of my time
list shown in the drop down to a time after the start time. Example:

1st column start time
3:15 pm
2nd column end time
3:30 pm or later

 

[Biff]

I would like to be lazy and not half to scroll from the top

I understood that much!

Let me play around with an idea I have.

Biff

 

[Biff]

OK, try this:

Assume you have a list of times in 15m increments in the range G1:G20. This
list is the source for your drop downs in A2 (start time) and B2 (end time).

As the source for the drop down in B2 use this:

=OFFSET(G1,MATCH(A2,G1:G20,0),,COUNT(G1:G20)-MATCH(A2,G1:G20,0))

So, if you select 9:00 AM as the start time from the drop down in cell A2
the drop down for cell B2 will start at 9:15 AM.

Biff

 

[Steve]

We are getting close. This formula works great unless there is a drop down
list, which I still need. When this formula is entered into a cell with a
drop down list I get a #value error. Any suggestions?

 

[Biff]

You don't enter the formula in a cell!

You use the formula as the source for the drop down.

If your end time drop down is in cell B2:

Select cell B2
Goto Data>Validation
Allow: List
Source: enter the formula in this box
OK

If you can't get it to work let me know and I'll put together a sample that
demonstrates this and post a link.

NB: Depending on how you created your incremented list of times, there could
be problems with matches. It's hard to explain but autofilling some types of
series values can lead to very minute rounding differences.

Biff

 

[Steve]

Hey Biff,
That worked great. I have one question though. Is there a way to get the
next start time (if there is one) to be based on the previous end time?

 

[Biff]

Are you talking about a 3rd and/or 4th drop down or are you talking about
looping back to the original start time drop down?

Biff

 

[Steve]

I have two columns one is start and the other is end times. Both columns
have drop down list of time in 15 minute increments. Each new row will
indicate a new job's start and end time. I would like for each new job (if
there is one) to draw off the previous end time.

 

[Steve]

Hey biff,
I figured a way to do this. I entered the formula in the next start time
cell =IF(A7>0,G6,). A7 is the next job name and G6 is the previous end time.
It works well but is there a way to accomplish this same thing in the
background so that the formulas will not be erased with a clear contents
command?
Thanks again.

 

[Biff]

Ok, but at some point you may "run out" of selections!

Just use the same basic setup:

As the source for the next start time DD that's based on the last end time
dd:

=OFFSET(G1,MATCH(B2,G1:G20,0),,COUNT(G1:G20)-MATCH(B2,G1:G20,0))

Where B2 = the last end time drop down

Basically, each one will cascade off of the previous one. But, like I said,
you'll eventually run out (if you have enough of these)!

Biff