Formula required to calculate value in next cell if original cell is blank

We can't see what is in each cell.

Will you please attach a SMALL sample Excel workbook (10-20 rows of data is usually enough)? However, please give us an indication of the approximate number of rows of data you want the solution to work with (100, 1000, 100,000 or whatever). Please don't attach a picture of an Excel sheet (no-one will want to re-type all your stuff before starting).

1. It does NOT have to be your real sheet - mock up a SAMPLE if you need to. But not 1000's of rows!!! It makes manual checking so tedious. Whatever you do... make sure that all confidential information is removed first!!

2. Make sure that your sample data are truly REPRESENTATIVE of your real data. The use of unrepresentative data is very frustrating and can lead to long delays in reaching a solution.

3. Make sure that your desired solution is also shown (mock up the results manually).

4. Try to avoid using merged cells. They cause lots of problems!

Unfortunately the attachment icon doesn't work at the moment. So, to attach an Excel file you have to do the following: Just before posting, scroll down to Go Advanced and then scroll down to Manage Attachments. Now follow the instructions at the top of that screen.

You might need to explain the last condition more fully, but this works for your sample sheet, in F2, copied down:

=IF(AND(COUNTA(A2:D2)=1,B2<>""),E2-B2,IF(C2="",E2-D2,IF(B2="",E2-C2,IF(A2="",E2-B2,E2-A2))))

Explain what you mean and post another sample sheet.

It looks like you want the first filled cell subtracted from column E.
The formula Glenn provided will only calculate column A if ALL the columns A-D are filled for the row.
This will calculate the first filled column.
=IF(A2<>"",E2-A2,IF(B2<>"",E2-B2,IF(C2<>"",E2-C2,E2-D2)))

If you add a column before column A, that new cell becomes column A, and your old column A is now column B. Add another embedded "if" to the beginning of the formula (see sheet 2).

OK... seeing what you posted, by adding the column to the left of column A, the formula automatically updates.

Note: if column E is blank, you'll have a negative number in the result.

It looks like there won't always be information in the reporting month either. You're looking at the difference between the customer's first order of the FY and the current month?