Deciphering a Formula

**Winstonwolf** · 12-29-2012, 05:14 AM

Hello.

I'm new to the forum, but I hope to be learning quite a bit from you all.

Also...

Can someone please explain the following formula for me?

=IF(M12="","",IF(M12="ENTER DATE","MISSING DATA", IF(M12-E12<=5,"Yes","No")))

I understand the basic argument structure of a conditional formula, but this one went over my head.

Help would be much appreciated!

**benishiryo** · 12-29-2012, 05:20 AM

hi Winstonwolf, welcome to the forum.

=IF(M12="",""
IF M12 equals to blank, show as blank

IF(M12="ENTER DATE","MISSING DATA"
IF M12 equals to "ENTER DATE", show as "MISSING DATA"

IF(M12-E12<=5,"Yes"
IF M12 -E12 is less or equals to 5, show as "Yes"

,"No")))
IF all the above scenario fails, show as 0

**Winstonwolf** · 12-29-2012, 12:31 PM

Wow... thank you very much! that's a great break down.

Could I bother you for one more thing? If I needed to modify this, I'd be a bit lost on how the parenthesis function inside of each other. Or could you recommend a good conditional formula tutorial that you would find adequate for similar formulas?

Thanks again!

**Ace_XL** · 12-29-2012, 03:41 PM

Try these links..

http://www.experiglot.com/2006/12/11...th-and-or-not/
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/nested.htm
http://spreadsheets.about.com/od/tip.../nested_if.htm

**Winstonwolf** · 12-29-2012, 04:05 PM

Thanks to both Benishiriyo and Ace-XL for your excellent help! Where would we be without our community's knowledge. I've given whatever reputation points I'm able, to both of you.

I'll mark this thread as solved.