Basic IF function help needed

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jbclem - 11 Dec 2006 00:52 GMT

I'm using Excel 2002 for the first time and trying to place a function into a cell. I 'm using IF(N44=L, M44-L44, L44-M44) .
Which is supposed to mean If the letter L is in cell N44, then subtract number in L44 from number in M44. Otherwise subtract M44 from L44.

If have 2 main questions...First, how to get the result of the function to show. Right now I see the function typed out in the cell, but no result. Help files say use CNTL and + and accent grave. Unfortunately, my english keyboard has no accent grave, so I'm stumped right there. I haven't found another way to get the results to show.

Second...can I use the letter L in N44 to trigger this function, or does it have to be another number?

Any suggestions?

jc

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Rookie 1st class - 11 Dec 2006 01:25 GMT

in O44 I pasted
=IF(N44="L", M44-L44, L44-M44)
L44 = 5
M44 = 10
if N44 = L answer in O44 = 5, if N44 anything besides L = -5
the " " around the text L are the secret.
Lou

> I'm using Excel 2002 for the first time and trying to place a function into a cell. I 'm using IF(N44=L, M44-L44, L44-M44) .
> Which is supposed to mean If the letter L is in cell N44, then subtract number in L44 from number in M44. Otherwise subtract M44 from L44.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> jc

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Mike Rogers - 11 Dec 2006 05:51 GMT

jbclem

The rest of the solution is the = sign before the If Statement.
=IF(N44="L", M44-L44, L44-M44)

Mike Rogers

> in O44 I pasted
> =IF(N44="L", M44-L44, L44-M44)
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> >
> > jc

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Bernard Liengme - 11 Dec 2006 14:39 GMT

The keyboard combination CTRL+` is used to DISPLAY formulas.
You do have accent grave: it is to the left of 1 on the top row of the 'typewriter' keys.
best wishes

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Bernard V Liengme
www.stfx.ca/people/bliengme
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David McRitchie - 11 Dec 2006 16:55 GMT

You should place the L in the formula within double quotes to
indicate that it is text.

There are some laptops evidently that don't have a key to the left
of the number row. Only heard of it once. If that is the case see
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/excel.htm#laptops

I think the tendency in laptops now is wider and less height on the
monitor -- so they fit into laptop bags easier or to save manfacturing
costs. .

---
HTH,
David McRitchie, Microsoft MVP - Excel
My Excel Pages: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/excel.htm
Search Page: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/search.htm

The keyboard combination CTRL+` is used to DISPLAY formulas.
You do have accent grave: it is to the left of 1 on the top row of the 'typewriter' keys.
best wishes

Signature

Bernard V Liengme
www.stfx.ca/people/bliengme
remove caps from email

"jbclem" <jbclem1@charter.net> wrote in message news:8Z1fh.82$pc2.55@newsfe02.lga...
I'm using Excel 2002 for the first time and trying to place a function into a cell. I 'm using IF(N44=L, M44-L44, L44-M44) .
Which is supposed to mean If the letter L is in cell N44, then subtract number in L44 from number in M44. Otherwise subtract M44
from L44.

If have 2 main questions...First, how to get the result of the function to show. Right now I see the function typed out in the
cell, but no result. Help files say use CNTL and + and accent grave. Unfortunately, my english keyboard has no accent grave, so
I'm stumped right there. I haven't found another way to get the results to show.

Second...can I use the letter L in N44 to trigger this function, or does it have to be another number?

Any suggestions?

jc

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jbclem - 11 Dec 2006 22:03 GMT

Thanks all for the help. I did finally find the accent grave, just where it's supposed to be. And have also learned to use = for identifying a formula in a cell (sorry, but I just switched from Quattro Pro9 where you don't need to use the = ). I had also figured out that the L wouldn't work and had switched it with a number, but I'll try using "L" which would be much better for my situation.

Best regards,

jc

I'm using Excel 2002 for the first time and trying to place a function into a cell. I 'm using IF(N44=L, M44-L44, L44-M44) .
Which is supposed to mean If the letter L is in cell N44, then subtract number in L44 from number in M44. Otherwise subtract M44 from L44.

If have 2 main questions...First, how to get the result of the function to show. Right now I see the function typed out in the cell, but no result. Help files say use CNTL and + and accent grave. Unfortunately, my english keyboard has no accent grave, so I'm stumped right there. I haven't found another way to get the results to show.

Second...can I use the letter L in N44 to trigger this function, or does it have to be another number?

Any suggestions?

jc

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PapaDos - 11 Dec 2006 22:30 GMT

It might be a good idea to look in Excel's help for the ABS() function...

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Regards,
Luc.

"Festina Lente"

> Thanks all for the help. I did finally find the accent grave, just where it's supposed to be. And have also learned to use = for identifying a formula in a cell (sorry, but I just switched from Quattro Pro9 where you don't need to use the = ). I had also figured out that the L wouldn't work and had switched it with a number, but I'll try using "L" which would be much better for my situation.
>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> jc

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