Leaving a calculated cell blank until ready for calculation

**Laliberte78** · 12-21-2011, 02:37 PM

I am doing a draw for our office and have a rand formula to choose a name when we start the draw. The formula is already placed in my cell therefore it is already choosing a name. I would like it to be left blank until we are ready for the calculation. How can I do that?

**estige** · 12-21-2011, 02:43 PM

Maybe =IF(a1="1",your formula,"")
type 1 in a1 to draw

**Laliberte78** · 12-21-2011, 02:55 PM

My boss will be drawing the actual name, he wanted to be able to press and hold F9 to quickly run through the names and let go randomly

**estige** · 12-21-2011, 04:12 PM

One easy way would be to include a blank cell in the list of names. Before the draw press f9 until this blank name is chosen, and hope it doesn't get chosen again when your boss lets go of f9☺. I'm sure someone else has a better solution...

**deadlyduck** · 12-21-2011, 05:02 PM

If the boss is only choosing one name, the following might work:

1. You could set the initial colour of the font in the cell where the name will be displayed to white (to match the background of the cell).
2. Then insert this VBA code into the WorkSheet_Calculate code [to do this, right click on the sheet tab and choose 'View code'. Then on the code section of the VBA screen, change the dropdown that says 'General' to 'Worksheet' and the other dropdown to 'Calculate'
3. Paste the following code between the Private Sub Worksheet_Calculate() and End Sub section:

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{The above code assumes that the name will be shown in cell e3- change as required.

When your boss holds F9 on the sheet where the name will be displayed and then releases it the result will be visible.