How can I mark every other row with a code?

[kbenson]

Every column is marked with a code (<1>begins every cell in the first column, <2> begins every cell in the second column, etc.). I will save my Excel file to text and bring it into a desktop publishing program and use the codes to arrange the information differently.

When I'm done, each row will be a separate paragraph. I will format my pages with 2 paragraphs per page. It would be easier (there are 2600 rows in this database) if I could tag every other row with a different code. IOW, <1a> for cell A1, <1b> for cell A2, <1a> for cell A3, <1b> for cell A4, etc.

Right now I'm using Find/Replace and replacing every other <1> code with a <1a> code, but this is very slow. Is there an easy way to do this? Ideally, I'd like to be able to mark every other row within a selected range, not the entire spreadsheet. I'm using Excel 2000.

Ken Benson

[Pete_UK]

Let me introduce you to the MOD function - it returns the remainder after division. So, if you have a formula like =MOD(number,2), where number is an integer, it will return either 0 or 1, depending on whether number is even or odd. Excel 2000 didn't/doesn't have an EVEN and ODD function, so this is one way of achieving that.

So, you can put this formula in a cell somewhere,

=MOD(ROW(),2)

and when you copy it down it will give you a series of zeros and ones. Applying this to your problem, you could have this formula:

=IF(MOD(ROW(),2)=1,"<1a>","<1b>")

which will return <1a> then <1b> to alternate rows.

Hope this helps.

Pete

[BenMiller]

Going off what Pete_UK said, you can use this formula to drag across columns and down rows too.

="<"&COLUMN()&CHAR(MOD(ROW()-1,2)+97)&">"

or

="<"&COLUMN()&CHOOSE(MOD(ROW()-1,2)+1,"a","b")&">"

[ChemistB]

@ Pete, Excel does have an ISEVEN and ISODD Function. I believe it dates back to Excel 2000 but am not sure. If the OP wanted to use that instead,

=IF(ISEVEN(ROW()),"<1b>","<1a>")

[BenMiller]

@ ChemistB, I believe it would be necessary to load the ToolPak Add-in in versions earlier than 2007. So, you're both right

[ChemistB]

Thanks Ben.

[Pete_UK]

Yeah, Ben's right - I just checked on an old PC which still has XL2000 installed on it.

Pete

[kbenson]

This is great! Thank you, Pete!

Ken

[Cutter]

@ kbenson

Based on your last post it seems that you are satisfied with the solution(s) you've received but you haven't marked your thread as SOLVED. I'll do that for you now but please keep in mind for your future threads that Rule #9 requires you to do that yourself. If your problem has not been solved you can use Thread Tools (located above your first post) and choose "Mark this thread as unsolved".
Thanks.

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[kbenson]

I got to spend only a few minutes on this before dinner. I wanted to try out the other two solutions and give them some recognition before I marked it solved. I've spent years answering questions in various desktop publishing newsgroups, and I know how frustrating it is when you post a perfectly good solution and get ignored.

Ken

---------- Post added at 09:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:16 PM ----------

Ben's solution works too, although I don't understand it. Pete's is simpler, and I can see how to change it. When I first posted, I forgot that I'm beginning in the second row, so I really need A2 to be <1a> and A3 to be <1b>, etc.

---------- Post added at 09:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:28 PM ----------

Yes, this doesn't work (probably would if I got the Add-in).

Ken

[Pete_UK]

Ken, you can change the =1 to =0 in the middle of my formula to get a different starting value.

Pete

[kbenson]

Thanks, Pete, that's neater than what I was doing (switching the codes themselves).

Ken