Merging three columns of dates in to one column keeping the oldest date

**sshubert** · 07-31-2012, 09:54 AM

Hello,

I have a worksheet that has three columns each containing a date. I need to merge the three columns in to one column using the oldest date from one of the original columns.

Ex:

Column A Column B Column C Column D(NEW)
9/5/2011 5/4/2012 6/1/2012 Keep - 9/5/2011

Thanks!

**benishiryo** · 07-31-2012, 10:00 AM

hi sshubert, welcome to the forum. maybe:
=MIN(A1:C1)

**sshubert** · 07-31-2012, 10:05 AM

I think I should have specified that there aren't dates in all columns for all rows - some rows have one date, some have two, and some have three.

**benishiryo** · 07-31-2012, 10:33 AM

if there is 1 date, it will take that date. if there's 2/3, it will take the minimum of it. if there are texts, it will only take minimum of the numbers. if there are numbers and you don't want to take in that, do you have a starting date you should take in? because if you format the number "1" into a date, it is 1 Jan 1900. it is still considered a date in Excel

upload a sample for our better understanding. press "Go Advanced" beside "Post Quick Reply". click on the paperclip icon