Complex formula getting moer complex

Will you please attach a SMALL sample Excel workbook (10-20 rows of data is usually enough)? Please don't attach a picture of one (no-one will want to re-type all your stuff before starting).

1. Make sure that your sample data are truly REPRESENTATIVE of your real data. The use of unrepresentative data is very frustrating and can lead to long delays in reaching a solution.

2. Make sure that your desired solution is also shown (mock up the results manually).

3. Make sure that all confidential information is removed first!!

4. Try to avoid using merged cells. They cause lots of problems!

Unfortunately the attachment icon doesn't work at the moment. So, to attach an Excel file you have to do the following: Just before posting, scroll down to Go Advanced and then scroll down to Manage Attachments. Now follow the instructions at the top of that screen.

Hi,

Perhaps this
=REPT("L",MIN(2,OR(H223={"L","X"})+OR(N223={"L","X"})+OR(T223={"L","X"})))

Breaking it down
OR(H223={"L","X"})
returns True if H223 equals either L or X and False otherwise. The formula is the same for the other two cells. These True/False values are then added together, converting True to 1 and False to 0, as in your original formula. This will produce a value between 0 and 3. The MIN part reduces the possible outcome to a value between 0 and 2.

REPT repeats a given text a particular number of times. In this case the letter L is repeated the number of times specified by the outcome above- i.e. 0, 1 or 2 times- which produces the output you asked for, namely "", "L" or "LL" respectively.

Does that help to clarify the formula?