Using a Match formula

[Robert M Lilly]

To Whom It May Concern:

I am 83 years old and have memory problem (Alzheimer’s). I have been using computers for many years and used to be very knowledgeable with regard to Excel and Access. I spend the better part of the day on my computers. Unfortunately I can’t remember or comprehend what it is I’m doing most of the time.


Yesterday I purchased your book on Vlookup, hoping to find some information to help me to understand how The Match Function works. You gave some examples of how you use it but no definition on what It does or how it works.


I have been using this formula for many years =IF($C2<$D$1,0,MATCH($C2,$D$1:$O$1,1)) but for the life me I cannot understand how it adds all the columns with a 1 in them.


C2 is the date a person registers to vote, the D1 thru O1 are the dates when elections were held. If a person has voted after his registration date, a 1 will be placed in that column. The code above calculates the number of times a person has voted and puts the total in P2.


If you can find the time to help me to understand how Match works, I would appreciate it.


Thank You

Robert Lilly

 

[bobhc]

Good day Robert and welcome to the forum if you have not already done so this link will help in the use of the forum,

http://chandoo.org/forum/threads/new-users-please-read.294/

Sorry about your disilabating illness,

I am 83 years old and have memory problem

I know of many 38 year olds with big memory issues....

This link has lookup/match examples, plus a video, hope it jogs a few grey cells....


http://www.myonlinetraininghub.com/excel-2007-–-vlookup-formulas-explained.

http://www.advanced-excel.com/match.html


Because of your memory you may find this of help.

http://www.excelfunctions.net/

This one has hyperlinks to functions.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/excel-functions-alphabetical-HA010342655.aspx?CTT=1#BM4


.

 

[NARAYANK991]

Hi ,

See this link also :

http://www.mbaexcel.com/excel/how-to-use-index-match-match/

Narayan

 

[Debraj]

Hi Lily..

As per your experience.. I guess you have already realized. its working the way you want to..
Let me elaborate..

=IF($C2<$D$1,0,MATCH($C2,$D$1:$O$1,1))
As D1 is fixed.. so its doesn't matter.. all other columns in D1:O1 is less than or greater than C2..
So 1st part not so dependable.. We/User have to take care .. all provided Voting Dates should be in ascending order.

Next.. part is also lil confusing.. If you have already checked any of the link provided by my friends, you will see, that, 1 used to finds the largest value that is less than or equal to lookup_value..
=IF($C2<$D$1,0,MATCH($C2,$D$1:$O$1,1))


So, finally, its doesn't make any sense.. rather try this formula..
=--($C2<=D$1)

Hope this one will give you the result you are expecting.. (in P2,using SUM, Total Number of time Voting held, after his registration)

Get well soon..