using words in functions

[KD-H]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

Is it possible to have a formula in a cell(1) that copies a cell value to another cell(2) when there's a specific word in another cell(3)? For example I have a column called 'description' a column called 'amount' and a column of 'motoring expenses' can I get the value from the 'amount' column copied into the 'motoring expenses' column when the 'description' cell reads: petrol?

 

[CyberTaz]

Your goal can be accomplished but in a different manner than you're
envisioning it. Formulas can't be used to populate other cells.

What you need is a table of information including the items, prices, and
other data about the records. You can then use functions from the Lookup &
Reference category to retrieve data items from the table. See Excel Help on
using the functions in that category.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

Is it possible to have a formula in a cell(1) that copies a cell value to
another cell(2) when there's a specific word in another cell(3)? For example
I have a column called 'description' a column called 'amount' and a column of
'motoring expenses' can I get the value from the 'amount' column copied into
the 'motoring expenses' column when the 'description' cell reads: petrol?

Formulae only return values to their calling cells, rather than copying
values to other cells, but you can do something like this:

Assume the amount column is column B, and the description is in column
C, and the motoring expenses column is column J.

Then in cell J2, enter:

=IF(C2="petrol", B2, "")

Copy J2 down as far as necessary.