advanced lookup/index-match problem

Hi

Let's say I have this set of data
_ a_b_c
1 cl_o_5/15/06
2 cl_c_4/21/06
3 dj_o_6/19/06
4 dj_c_8/2/06
5 bp_o_3/21/06
6 oj_o_7/7/06
7 bo_c_7/15/06
8 cl_o_3/1/06

OK, so we have three columns of data: symbol, status (open or closed), and a date.

Now, without having to do any special sorting, is there a way to find out, using the list just the way it is, what the oldest date is for all open cl trades, and then all bp trades, etc?

How can I tell excel to:

"take a look inside of column A for all instances of cl, where column B says "O", and make note of the date of each trade. Then, having gathered the list of all relevant dates, tell me what the oldest date of the bunch is. Thanks"

Looking at the cl trades, the oldest open trade is 3/1/06

Any ideas are welcome.

Many thanks

tx

See reply in .Functions

Biff

"tx12345" <tx12345.2ccwck_1155267311.1858@excelforum-nospam.com> wrote in
message news:tx12345.2ccwck_1155267311.1858@excelforum-nospam.com...
>
> Hi
>
> Let's say I have this set of data
> _ a_b_c
> 1 cl_o_5/15/06
> 2 cl_c_4/21/06
> 3 dj_o_6/19/06
> 4 dj_c_8/2/06
> 5 bp_o_3/21/06
> 6 oj_o_7/7/06
> 7 bo_c_7/15/06
> 8 cl_o_3/1/06
>
> OK, so we have three columns of data: symbol, status (open or closed),
> and a date.
>
> Now, without having to do any special sorting, is there a way to find
> out, using the list just the way it is, what the oldest date is for all
> open cl trades, and then all bp trades, etc?
>
> How can I tell excel to:
>
> "take a look inside of column A for all instances of cl, where column B
> says "O", and make note of the date of each trade. Then, having gathered
> the list of all relevant dates, tell me what the oldest date of the
> bunch is. Thanks"
>
> Looking at the cl trades, the oldest open trade is 3/1/06
>
> Any ideas are welcome.
>
> Many thanks
>
> tx
>
>
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> tx12345
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