Excel - IF Function Problem - Expert Solution

Question description:
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I have a few columns of text in columns "A" and "B" I want to compare those columns to columns "L" and "M" in order to determine if these recurring names come up. I am trying to determine if a donor has donate from year to year and can't figure this out.
Solved by O. L. in 21 mins
This is the chat thread from the real Excelchat help session. It contains no private user information.
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:07
Welcome, thank you for choosing Got It Pro-Excel! I'll be glad to assist you with your concern. :)
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:09
From your post, it seems you wanted to match columns A and B to that of columns L and M, and determine the recurring names. Is this correct?
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:11
Hello, if it's okay, may I kindly as if you can upload in here the file you're working on. This is for us to have a better grasp of the situation and deliver the formula directly to your file. Thanks!
User 16/07/2018 - 03:11
Yes, let me show you what I mean
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:11
Yes please do. Thanks!
User 16/07/2018 - 03:14
so what I am trying to do is compare the first and last names of the donors from these different columns (on my sheet there are much more) to determine if the donors have donate each year for a specified period of time. Can you teach me how to do this?
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:14
Sure thing! Let me first lay down the formula in the sample data and we can discuss how I did it. :)
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:18
Okay, already done. Unfortunately, in our sample data, no one donated for both 2017 and 2018.
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:19
Let me provide you an explanation of the formulas used.
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:19
First would be the CONCATENATE formula that combines the first name and last name to create a full name.
User 16/07/2018 - 03:20
I have a small background in using python so i actually recognized that formula
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:20
We see that in columns C and M. There would be weird combinations such as cell C4 since in the First name, there are two persons, and the last name denotes the charity foundation.
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:20
Oh nice! :)
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:20
So we could then discuss the IF and COUNTIF combo on columns D and N.
User 16/07/2018 - 03:21
yes perfect
User 16/07/2018 - 03:21
i just need to understand what in the inner parrenthesis
User 16/07/2018 - 03:21
($C:$C,$M3)>0
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:21
Basically, the COUNTIF would count how many instances in a range did a criteria occur. So if you look at cell D2, the countif would be COUNTIF($M:$M,$C2). This means that it will count how many times in column M:M did C2 occur.
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:22
The COUNTIF($M:$M,$C2)>0 would check if the COUNT will be more than 0 or not.
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:22
If it is more than 0, then we know that the name donated last year. Thus, it will return a "Yes". Otherwise, it will return a "No"
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:23
That's the logic behind the IF statement.
User 16/07/2018 - 03:23
so what i just did if i copied for the 3rd data table to the far right would that also read yes
User 16/07/2018 - 03:24
because it appeared in the previous column
User 16/07/2018 - 03:24
okay i think i get it now
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:25
The formula you should copy in this case is the one in column N. Columns D and N will have different references. :)
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:25
But with same logic.
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:25
Is there anything else that I can assist you regarding the solution provided? :)
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:26
Btw, you can download a copy of the document preview by going to File > Download as > Microsoft Excel (.xlsx). The formulas will be downloaded as well. :)
User 16/07/2018 - 03:27
You are a god among us all ty so much
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:27
Thanks for the appreciation! :)
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:27
Nice! You can now end the session via the button on your upper right (sorry, can't do it from our end). I would also appreciate it if you can leave a great feedback after this.Thanks so much for using Got it pro and have a nice day! :)
User 16/07/2018 - 03:27
last question, are there resources online that I can learn to develop to the point where i can do these things independent of help?
Excelchat Expert 16/07/2018 - 03:28
Oh, I'm not entirely sure but you may check youtube tutorials and such. I just gained my knowhow with Excel thru my previous works and lots of practice. :)
User 16/07/2018 - 03:28
gotcha ty anyway

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