Is it possible to create a formula, in one cell, that will add text to a different cell?

[AnnieBrownTX]

I have been googling this all morning...

Is it possible to have a formula in one cell that will create text in a different cell?

I can create a formula directly in the cell that I want to house the text... but as soon as it gets written over, it is gone...
I tried using the formula in Data Validation and Conditonal Formatting, but neither one of them produced the results I want.

If I type this formula into BO21:
=IF((B21="Baggage Fees"),"Enter number of bags checked","")
I get the message "Enter number of bags checked" to appear in the cell. I want the user to enter in the number of bags they checked. Based on that number, another cell has a formula...

Problem is, once they type in the number, they write over the formula.

So, can I create a formula in BO1 that will create text in BO21?

I tried this, but it didn't work:

=IF((B21="Baggage Fees"),(BO21="Enter number of bags checked"),(BO21=""))

Help!!
Annie

[oeldere]

You get better help if you post an Excel-example of your workbook, without confidential information.

Make sure the workbook demonstrates your desired results if possible, or just highlight the cells you're trying to fix.

Use BEFORE/AFTER sheets if that helps make it clearer.

[ivqancorp]

What you are trying to do, can not be done through excel built in formula, but can very easily be done using VBA. Like oeldere said though, attach a workbook.

[AnnieBrownTX]

Audit Sample for Excel Forum 6.29.2012.xlsx

I am attaching a sample file.

I want:
M3 to say "Enter number of bags checked" if "Baggage Fees" is selected from the dropdown in B3

I then want the User to type in the number of bags checked into cell M3
If their entry is greater than 2,3,4 or 5 then cell AE3 will turn red and say "Comment Required"

I would like the formula to be if M3>1 then show "Comment Required" - but the formula in AE3 is seeing the formula in M3, and deciding it is "greater than 1".

Also, I am pretty sure my formula in AD3 could be written better.
=IF(OR(B3="",OR(C3="",J3="",L3="",O3="",X3="",AC3="")),"You do not qualify for this expense",IF(OR(B3="Baggage Fees",M3<1),"Reimbursable","Reimbursable"))

What I am trying to get it to do is say that the following cells MUST be populated:
B3
C3
J3
L3
O3
X3
AC3

AND if
B3="Baggage Fees" then cell M3 must also be populated
the end result will be that "Reimbursable" should appear, if all the cells are populated... if not, they should get a message saying "You do not qualify for this expense"

What I'd REALLY like... is for:
All the cells above cannot be blank and if B3="Baggage Fees", then cell M3 has text that says "Enter number of bags checked" and that field must be populated with a number. If the number entered into cell M3 is greater than 1, then cell AE3 says "Comment Required" and cell AD3 says "Reimbursable" - preferably when the text changes in AE3 Attachment 165024Attachment 165024from "Comment Required" to whatever the user types in.

I think I am asking for magic, but I don't know.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! If the answer is that it can't be done, then just put me out of my misery, so I'll stop trying! :-)

Thanks much!
Annie

[Marcol]

As already stated, this can't be done with native functions. A cell can be either a value or a formula not both.

Why not use M2 for your formula, and M3 for your value?

See this example using C/F to highlight the cell that requires a value.