using Combo Box to retrieve data

**jamesjessie117** · 09-28-2012, 07:12 AM

Still my brain are ready to explode. No luck in finding the simplest formulae. I'm trying to place a Start Date and End Date for the results of A23 and B23 downwards where in all the results will be placed on A23 and B23 downwards. Kindly check image attachment.

Attachment 183433

**benishiryo** · 09-28-2012, 08:33 AM

hi there again, jamesjessie117. not sure if this is what you need:

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an array formula too like yours. and also used IFERROR since you are using it. it's actually better if your Start & End Date only has 2 cells instead of 6

**jamesjessie117** · 09-28-2012, 06:14 PM

Hi Benishiryo,

Thank you and it works. As you said that it is better to have 2 cells for the Start and End Date how would I able to do that? Really have no idea with this one. I cannot use the Microsoft Date picker since I want to be portable where in I can lunch this file to any PC that have excel. I've seen other program that program it in VB but I'm just beginning to learn excel. But if there will be an easy to follow procedure for the dates I would appreciate your assistance.

**benishiryo** · 09-28-2012, 10:25 PM

you're welcome. as our computer settings in different computers for dates are different (some in d/m/y, some in m/d/y), it's better to write dates in number for day, spell out the 3 letters for months & years in numbers too. like:
29sep12

you'll know Excel recognises it as a date when it aligns itself to the right without any forced alignment. that is because Excel stores dates as numbers & numbers are aligned to the right. if you type a text like "abc", you'll realise it aligns to the left. this method is better than typing 1/2/2012 cause in my computer settings, it might be reading 1st Feb 2012 while yours may be interpreted as 2nd Jan 2012.

so assuming you have the start & end date now only in 2 separate cells in B20 & B21, the formula will be:

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a little shorter. if you want to limit the users to input from 2010-2015, you can also use the data validation you did for List. but choose Date this time instead. and you can choose between 1 jan 2010 to 31 Dec 2015. Inside the Data Validation window, you can also go to the "Input Message" tab to let your user know what they ought to fill in, in case they are wondering why typing 2009 wont work