Need a Fill Down Function For a Multiple-Variable Hierarchy

Hi -

I've asked a version of this question previously, but my new example is more complicated and has to account for a scenario where I am filling in hierarchical categories in a column, but different parts of the hierarchy may be missing in some cases.

In the attached sheet, Columns A:C are what I already have, Columns D:F are what I am trying to create. You'll see that there is a basic FUNCTION -> SERIES -> GROUP -> Title hierarchy, but in some cases there is "No Group," and in one case there is also "No Series."

How do I construct a formula that achieves this result. Previously I used a version of this: =IF(A2="**",C2,E1) but I've expanded to a four-level hierarchy and can't figure out how to handle missing steps in the hierarachy, all while creating the asterisks in the D:F columns.

Sorry leelnich.

What I mean by hierarchy is that every "Title" is part of a "Group," and every Group is part of a "Series," and every Series is part of a "Function." The asterisks are a sort of code, yes: three for functions, two for series, one for groups, and zero for titles. However, there are a couple series with no group, and one instance of a function without a series.

I constructed columns D:F manually - I'm trying to figure out what formula will help me create the results in those columns.

leelnich! thanks so much, this is great.

One updated question -

On the first instance of the hierarchy, what if I wanted it to display the appropriate asterisk from Column A, rather than the text of the category?

For example, in this sheet, on D4, it says "Agricultural Production Group" - what if I wanted it to say "*"? And instead of E3 saying "Agriculture Series," what if I wanted it to say "**"? And in F2, what if I wanted it to say "*" instead of "Land Function"?

I've played around with the LEN part of your function and I can't quite make it work - it seems like to get the asterisk result, it has to be static, but obviously to get the subsequent result it needs the "+1" you've added. Any thoughts?

Thanks again - this is sufficient for my purposes even if you don't have a solution to my additional question.