If this AND that OR that

While working with Excel, we are able to evaluate two or more conditions and customize the actions by using the IF, AND and OR functions.  This step by step tutorial will assist all levels of Excel users in marking items in a database that satisfy specific sets of conditions.   

Figure 1. Final result: IF this AND that OR that

Final formula: =IF(AND(C3="Reusable",OR(D3="Plastic",D3="Metal")),"x","")

Syntax of IF Function

IF function evaluates a given logical test and returns a TRUE or a FALSE

=IF(logical_test, [value_if_true], [value_if_false])

• The arguments “value_if_true” and “value_if_false” are optional.  If left blank, the function will return TRUE if the logical test is met, and FALSE if otherwise.  

Syntax of AND Function

AND function evaluates all logical tests and returns a TRUE if all arguments are TRUE; FALSE if one or more arguments is FALSE

=AND(logical1, [logical2], ...)

Parameters:

• logical1–  the first condition that we want to test
• only logical1 is required; succeeding conditions are optional  

Syntax of OR Function

OR function evaluates all logical tests and returns TRUE if any argument is TRUE; FALSE if all arguments are FALSE.

=OR(logical1, [logical2], ...)

Parameters:

• logical1–  the first condition that we want to test
• only logical1 is required; succeeding conditions are optional  

Setting up Our Data

Our table contains a list of Item ID (column B), Category (column C), Material (column D) and Indicator (column E). In cells E3:E9, we want to indicate whether an item is a “Reusable Plastic” or a “Reusable Metal”.   

Figure 2. Sample data for IF this AND that

IF “Reusable” AND “Plastic” OR “Metal”

In order to mark an item if it is both “Reusable” and made of either “Plastic” or “Metal”, we follow these steps:

Step 1.  Select cell E3

Step 2.  Enter the formula: =IF(AND(C3="Reusable",OR(D3="Plastic",D3="Metal")),"x","")

Step 3: Press ENTER

Step 4: Copy the formula in cell E3 to cells E4:E9 by clicking the “+” icon at the bottom right-corner of cell E3 and dragging it down.  

Figure 3. Entering the formula to mark IF “Reusable” AND made of “Plastic” OR “Metal”

The first part of our formula tests two sets of conditions using the AND function:

• First condition: If the category of an item is “Reusable”
• Second condition: If material is either “Plastic” OR “Metal”

When both conditions are satisfied, the IF function returns the character “x”, which marks the item as a “Reusable Plastic” or “Reusable Metal”.  Otherwise, it returns an empty string “”.  

As a result, our formula returns an “x” in cells E3, E5 and E6, which satisfy our two conditions.  

Figure 4. Output: Mark “x” IF “Reusable” AND made of “Plastic” OR “Metal”

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