Hiya,

I'm currently developing a workbook for a clinical organisation. The workbook keeps track of stock. However, I've come across a challenge:

One aspect of the workbook is a table with all the details of some instruments in stock. Here are three of the most important columns (call them A, B and C for ease).

A - Product name (e.g. Toothed sterile forceps)
B - Number in stock (up to 100)
C - Expiry dates

I need to find an easy way for the user to insert expiry dates, which allows the workbook to flag when some products are expired and also does not require hundreds of extra columns. I know how to check if the date is before TODAY(), etc. but not so sure of the best way to generate the actual expiry dates. I have a two ideas. Idea one should be possible some, but idea 2 is the most ideal. Would that be possible....

1 (simple): The user types in every expiry date separated by commas (e.g. 10/10/08, 10/10/08, 11/10/08, 12/10/08). A hidden one hundred column would then separate the dates so that each column had just one date. These could then be used for the rest of the formulas which I have no problems with.

2. This works similarly to idea one, but this gets annoying when there are numerous items with the same expiry date (for example a delivery of 20 items all with 10/10/08). In this case, the user could type 20x10/10/08. And then in the hidden columns, twenty of the columns would say 10/10/08. Therefore an example of what can be typed into the expiry dates column is:

10/10/08, 11/10/08, 2x12/10/08, 15/10/08, 2x18/10/08

This would make the hidden columns say (columns spearated by a *):
10/10/08 * 11/10/08 * 12/10/08 * 12/10/08 * 15/10/08 * 18/10/08 * 18/10/08


Is this possible? If not, how would I work idea 1? Or is there a better alternative?

Thanks a lot!