Question description:
This user has given permission to use the problem statement for this blog.
Hi,
For a budget calculation I want to create a condition. If A2 doesn't equal the word "income", C2 should be turned into a negative number (multiplied by (-1)
I can't figure out the right formula
Solved by V. B. in 20 mins
This is the chat thread from the real Excelchat help session. It contains no private user information.
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:39
Welcome to ExcelChat!
User
15/09/2018 - 02:39
hi
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:40
I see that your problem is about changing the cell value based on another cell
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:40
I will help you with the problem and explain the solution afterwards.
User
15/09/2018 - 02:40
great, thank you
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:40
Before we get started, this is a reminder that our policy is one problem per session with additional Q&A on that problem as time allows.
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:40
Let me ask you a couple of quick questions to make sure I fully understand your problem.
User
15/09/2018 - 02:40
alright
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:41
You mentioned that if A2 doesn't have the word income, C2 value should become negative
User
15/09/2018 - 02:41
right
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:41
The values in column C are typed in as values, or do they have formulas which make the result?
User
15/09/2018 - 02:42
they're typed in as values
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:43
The problem is that we won't be able to have the values in the cell and the formula which will turn them negative
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:43
But we can make another column, which will get the value from column C and make it negative
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:43
If condition in column A is followed
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:44
So we can have column D, which will equal to column C. If column A doesn't have the word income, the column D will equal the value of column C but with negative value
User
15/09/2018 - 02:44
okay
User
15/09/2018 - 02:44
What about a condition?
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:44
Okay, I will make the solution for you in column D
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:45
If column A has income, then column D values equal to column C. If column A doesn't have it, then it will be negative value of column C
User
15/09/2018 - 02:45
I can use conditional formatting to turn C2 red if A2 doesn't have the the word income
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:45
Yes, we can do it
User
15/09/2018 - 02:45
is it not possible to use the same conditional formatting to turn the number into a negative number?
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:45
Will it be a better solution for you?
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:46
No, sorry, not possible
User
15/09/2018 - 02:46
I see
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:46
So we will make a solution in column D, right?
User
15/09/2018 - 02:46
right
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:47
Okay, your solution is ready at column D
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:47
The formula which we used is the following:
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:47
=if(A1="income",C1,-C1)
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:47
So if column A has word income, we get the value of column C, otherwise we get the negative value of column C
User
15/09/2018 - 02:48
Alright, thanks for that
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:48
You are welcome!
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:48
Do you have any other questions about this problem and the solution?
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:49
Thanks for coming to Excelchat. Feel free to leave any comments or feedback. Have a nice day!
User
15/09/2018 - 02:58
Sorry, I got diconnected
User
15/09/2018 - 02:58
I actually found another solution, maybe you can use it in future sessions
Excelchat Expert
15/09/2018 - 02:59
Yes, what is it?
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