Understanding complex IF Formula within IF formula

[DP]

I do not know what this formula is doing can you help?

=IF(LEFT(QBCash!$B2,5)="Total","",IF(ISBLANK(QBCash!$B2),$A1,QBCash!$B2))

Thanks for your help.

DP

 

[Mike H]

Hi,

The formula is looking at a worksheet called QBCash

Breaking the formula down


=IF(LEFT(QBCash!$B2,5)="Total","",
1. It looks at the contents of B2 and if the word 'Total' are the first 5
letters of the cell the formula return a null string


IF(ISBLANK(QBCash!$B2),$A1,
2. If that isn't TRUE it then checks if B2 is blank and if it is it returns
the value of cell A1.

3. If B2 isn't blank the value of B2 is returned

=IF(LEFT(QBCash!$B2,5)="Total","",IF(ISBLANK(QBCash!$B2),$A1,QBCash!$B2))


--
Mike

When competing hypotheses are otherwise equal, adopt the hypothesis that
introduces the fewest assumptions while still sufficiently answering the
question.

 

[DP]

Hi, Mike H:

Thanks for this information. It will help me decipher other similar complex
formulas.

 

[Mike H]

Your welcome and thanks for the feedback
--
Mike

When competing hypotheses are otherwise equal, adopt the hypothesis that
introduces the fewest assumptions while still sufficiently answering the
question.