Automatically Populating a cell with the result of a calculation

**bosstime1** · 07-19-2009, 09:05 AM

Hi, I am new to this site and was hoping somebody could help me with the following. I am attempting to automatically populate a cell with the result of a calculation. For example, Column A will be populated with a user-entered date. Column B contains a formula which works out the date difference between the user-entered date (in Column A) and a fixed date (in years, months, days format). What I am struggling to accomplish is to have Column B automatically populated with the date difference as soon as return is pressed after Column A has been populated. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

**JBeaucaire** · 07-19-2009, 09:14 AM

A simple IF() should do it. In B3, for instance:

=IF(A3 = "", "", DATEDIF(A3, $G$1, "d"))

That formula assumes there is a fixed data in cell G1 all the rows are to calculate against. Of course you can change that reference or replace it with your current formula. This is mainly just to show how you can put the formulas in column B while column A is still blank and the formula sees that and stays "blank" until you put a value in.

**bosstime1** · 07-20-2009, 07:43 AM

JBeaucaire, thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Your suggestion worked a treat and resolves the issue I raised through the forum. Once again, thank you for your help!

**JBeaucaire** · 07-21-2009, 04:24 AM

If that takes care of your need, be sure to EDIT your original post, click Go Advanced and mark the PREFIX box [SOLVED].

(Also, use the blue "scales" icon in our posts to leave Reputation Feedback, it is appreciated)