[Rob Hood]

need a formula written, have been searching through the MS-help and can't seem to find a way to write the formula I want. I need a formula that shows the next number in column A when I enter data in column B.

For instance, if A2 says "1," then when I click on B3, I want A3 to show "2." I also need the number to show in five digits, e.g., 00001, 00002, etc.

Where's the enguhneers out there??? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Rob

[y5e06]

edited to add if statement (always check your work, right?):


ok, I don't know how to get your counting column (A column) to increment just by clicking on your data cell (B column). However you can use a count function 'counta' to return a value if there is any data of any kind (integer, character, etc.) entered in your data column
in your first column, first cell (A1) enter: =IF(COUNTA(B1)>0,1," ")
in the first column, second cell (A2) enter: =IF(COUNTA(B2)>0,A1+1," ")
once you do that, click on the second cell (A2) and drag all the way down for as many counting cells as you want, then hit 'control' and 'd' at the same time.
that will fill down that formula to the lower cells control+d is the short cut.
(or you could pick 'Edit' -> 'Fill' -> 'Down' from the pull down menu.

After that when you enter data in B1, '1' will appear in A1
if you then enter data in B2, '2' will appear in A2.

you could make it more complicated using more logic statements if you wanted to skip data cells but continue counting. say if you wanted to not enter data in B3 but you do want enter data in B4 and still have column A incriment.

This post has been edited by y5e06: Oct 18 2004, 12:46 AM