Take text from one cell if the other is empty

[preveo]

I need to have a formula which will look in one cell and if there is something in, copy the text.

So if A1 has text in it, copy it to C1, but if no text then take the value from B1 and insert into C1.

Is this possible?

B

[haldavid]

Insert this into C1:

=IF(A1<>"",A1,B1)

[preveo]

Thank you so much!!

[preveo]

How do I hide the 0, if there's nothing in either cell?

[haldavid]

No problem. Try this:

=IF(IF(A1<>"",A1,B1)=0,"",IF(A1<>"",A1,B1))

[preveo]

Thanks! Is it possible for a cell to have a value entered into it, and if it doesn't default to the formula used?

[haldavid]

Not in the same cell, but you can "stage gate" it. Have a column in between that you can enter data into (column C) and then have the formula in column D. For example:

=IF(IF(C1<>"",(IF(A1<>"",A1,B1),C1)=0,"",IF(C1<>"",(IF(A1<>"",A1,B1),C1))

This checks if you manually entered anything into C. If you did, it just uses that. If C is blank, then it checks A and B like before.

[preveo]

Hi,

It's coming up with a message that says "Your formula is missing a parenthesis--) or (.

[haldavid]

Sorry, that's my fault - that's what I get for typing that freehand and not testing in a worksheet.

=IF(IF(C1<>"",C1,IF(A1<>"",A1,B1))=0,"",IF(C1<>"",C1,IF(A1<>"",A1,B1)))

[preveo]

Thank you so much for your help!

[haldavid]

No worries.