get lowest positive number

Chuck,

Good points, but just picking up on one thing you say, hopefully in an
equally non-argumentative way..

You say '... but I don't choose to use some of them because I don't
understand them myself, and I don't always have the time to try to figure
them out ...'.

How about asking for an explanation? Two benefits from this:
- sometimes the answers that are given seem obvious to the responder but not
to others, so by asking for an explanation, others get a better
understanding as well
- it will help to develop your own skills, making you more self-reliant in
future, and who knows we might even see less of you :-) (as a poster not is,
maybe more as a responder).

Best Regards

Bob


"CLR" <croberts@tampabay.rr.com> wrote in message
news:%23dbIBaVWFHA.2768@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Not really Don, and I'll tell you why. First off, let me say that I hold
> you in the highest esteem for your Excel skill. I read and learn from
your
> responses to others, and you have answered several questions for me as
well.
> This answer to your question is in no way meant to be argumentative.
>
> I just think that the "best" technical answer is not necessarily always
the
> best answer. Of course I recognize that your Array-Formula is the
"better"
> way to solve this particular Excel problem technically, but it's only
> "better" if one has the skill level to be able to use "and" feel
comfortable
> enough with it so that when they have to modify it some time down the
road,
> they will still understand how it worked and be able to deal with it.
Many
> many times I do things in my own work that is not done the "best" way, but
> it's the way I can remember how to do at the time and it works and I feel
> comfortable with it, so I do it.
>
> I've sent questions of my own to these newsgroups and sometimes receive
> answers that supposedly are the "best" ones, but I don't choose to use
some
> of them because I don't understand them myself, and I don't always have
the
> time to try to figure them out.
>
> Besides being able to get answers here, I think the greatest benefit of
> these newsgroups is that an OP can usually get not just the "best" answer,
> but several answers to his question and then he can choose which one best
> fits his needs and current skill-level.
>
> My best to you and yours........
>
> Vaya con Dios,
> Chuck, CABGx3
>
>
>
> "Don Guillett" <donaldb@281.com> wrote in message
> news:#QjuY4KWFHA.2768@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > Chuck,
> > Don't you think a helper column with a lot of unnecessary formulas seems
> > like over doing it?
> >
> > --
> > Don Guillett
> > SalesAid Software
> > donaldb@281.com
> > "CLR" <croberts@tampabay.rr.com> wrote in message
> > news:ut3Iz2IWFHA.2960@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> > > Not sure what you mean by having a "cell" with a range of numbers in
> > > it........ an example would be appreciated if that's really the
> > case.......
> > >
> > > On the other hand, if you meant that you have a "Column" with a range
of
> > > numbers in it, then assuming it's column A, use a helper column in
> column
> > B1
> > > put this formula.........=IF(A1>0,A1,"") and copy it down, then in C1
> put
> > > this formula.........=MIN(B:B)
> > >
> > > If you meant you have a "row" with a range of numbers in it, then
> assuming
> > > it's Row 1, put this formula in A2 and copy
> > > across.......=IF(A1>0,A1,"").........then in A3 put this
> > > formula..............=MIN(2:2)
> > >
> > >
> > > Vaya con Dios,
> > > Chuck, CABGx3
> > >
> > >
> > > "Tommy" <Tommy@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > news:D97567B8-E81D-48A6-B6F8-1B8CFF668646@microsoft.com...
> > > > I have a cell that has number ranges from -37 to 88, what is the
> formula
> > > to
> > > > show the lowest positive number.
> > > >
> > > > Thank You
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Hi Bob........

Of course you're right about asking for an explanation. When time permits
that's my preference also.....I only meant that when I ask a question for my
personal need, I'm usually in a hurry and thinking only of myself and my
problem. And, if I get three answers that work and one or two are beyond my
present skill-level, I usually go with the one that I can easily understand
and implement quickly. Even if it's not "the best", it's the best for me at
that moment. On other occasions, when time permits, and someone responds
with something that strikes my fancy or an area I am currently interested
in, I will delve deeper, and then rejoice in the flood of knowledge that
comes with each new level of understanding of Excel. We have no way of
knowing, usually, which mode the OP might be in when they write their often
cryptic questions. That's why I'm so in favor of giving them several
options. It's just amazing how often one responder or another will see
something in the question that will allow them to "hit the nail right on the
head" with their response. This system of newsgroups is the "best thing to
come along since sliced bread". The Responders are all to be commended for
their patience, their understanding, and for the selfless sharing of their
time and knowledge.

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3



"Bob Phillips" <bob.phillips@notheretiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
news:OXiu$3VWFHA.612@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Chuck,
>
> Good points, but just picking up on one thing you say, hopefully in an
> equally non-argumentative way..
>
> You say '... but I don't choose to use some of them because I don't
> understand them myself, and I don't always have the time to try to figure
> them out ...'.
>
> How about asking for an explanation? Two benefits from this:
> - sometimes the answers that are given seem obvious to the responder but
not
> to others, so by asking for an explanation, others get a better
> understanding as well
> - it will help to develop your own skills, making you more self-reliant in
> future, and who knows we might even see less of you :-) (as a poster not
is,
> maybe more as a responder).
>
> Best Regards
>
> Bob
>
>
> "CLR" <croberts@tampabay.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:%23dbIBaVWFHA.2768@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > Not really Don, and I'll tell you why. First off, let me say that I
hold
> > you in the highest esteem for your Excel skill. I read and learn from
> your
> > responses to others, and you have answered several questions for me as
> well.
> > This answer to your question is in no way meant to be argumentative.
> >
> > I just think that the "best" technical answer is not necessarily always
> the
> > best answer. Of course I recognize that your Array-Formula is the
> "better"
> > way to solve this particular Excel problem technically, but it's only
> > "better" if one has the skill level to be able to use "and" feel
> comfortable
> > enough with it so that when they have to modify it some time down the
> road,
> > they will still understand how it worked and be able to deal with it.
> Many
> > many times I do things in my own work that is not done the "best" way,
but
> > it's the way I can remember how to do at the time and it works and I
feel
> > comfortable with it, so I do it.
> >
> > I've sent questions of my own to these newsgroups and sometimes receive
> > answers that supposedly are the "best" ones, but I don't choose to use
> some
> > of them because I don't understand them myself, and I don't always have
> the
> > time to try to figure them out.
> >
> > Besides being able to get answers here, I think the greatest benefit of
> > these newsgroups is that an OP can usually get not just the "best"
answer,
> > but several answers to his question and then he can choose which one
best
> > fits his needs and current skill-level.
> >
> > My best to you and yours........
> >
> > Vaya con Dios,
> > Chuck, CABGx3
> >
> >
> >
> > "Don Guillett" <donaldb@281.com> wrote in message
> > news:#QjuY4KWFHA.2768@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > > Chuck,
> > > Don't you think a helper column with a lot of unnecessary formulas
seems
> > > like over doing it?
> > >
> > > --
> > > Don Guillett
> > > SalesAid Software
> > > donaldb@281.com
> > > "CLR" <croberts@tampabay.rr.com> wrote in message
> > > news:ut3Iz2IWFHA.2960@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> > > > Not sure what you mean by having a "cell" with a range of numbers in
> > > > it........ an example would be appreciated if that's really the
> > > case.......
> > > >
> > > > On the other hand, if you meant that you have a "Column" with a
range
> of
> > > > numbers in it, then assuming it's column A, use a helper column in
> > column
> > > B1
> > > > put this formula.........=IF(A1>0,A1,"") and copy it down, then in
C1
> > put
> > > > this formula.........=MIN(B:B)
> > > >
> > > > If you meant you have a "row" with a range of numbers in it, then
> > assuming
> > > > it's Row 1, put this formula in A2 and copy
> > > > across.......=IF(A1>0,A1,"").........then in A3 put this
> > > > formula..............=MIN(2:2)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Vaya con Dios,
> > > > Chuck, CABGx3
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Tommy" <Tommy@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > > news:D97567B8-E81D-48A6-B6F8-1B8CFF668646@microsoft.com...
> > > > > I have a cell that has number ranges from -37 to 88, what is the
> > formula
> > > > to
> > > > > show the lowest positive number.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thank You
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Hi Chuck,

"CLR" <croberts@tampabay.rr.com> wrote in message
news:eIvxUPmWFHA.3488@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...

> Of course you're right about asking for an explanation. When time permits
> that's my preference also.....I only meant that when I ask a question for
my
> personal need, I'm usually in a hurry and thinking only of myself and my
> problem. And, if I get three answers that work and one or two are beyond
my
> present skill-level, I usually go with the one that I can easily
understand
> and implement quickly. Even if it's not "the best", it's the best for me
at
> that moment.

So we're not going o get rid of you then? :-)

> We have no way of knowing, usually, which mode the OP
> might be in when they write their often cryptic questions.
> That's why I'm so in favor of giving them several options.
> It's just amazing how often one responder or another will see
> something in the question that will allow them to "hit the nail right
> on the head" with their response.

Amen to that. That is why I try to read as many as I can, as well as those I
respond to.

> This system of newsgroups is the
> "best thing to come along since sliced bread".

I agree. Much better than the web based forums.


Regards

Bob