Basic formula help

[excelcommo]

I feel silly, but I can't come up with a simple basic formula that accomplishes the following:

If G1 is blank or empty and E1 is not blank or empty, then make G1 equal to what's in E1, or else leave G1 blank

I don't want a programming solution, I just want a simple everyday excel formula that everyone, including me, should be able to build. I have been able to build multi-nested if then formula's, but I am hitting a mental block with this one.

Signed,
Silly and Embarrassed at Having to Ask

 

[wigi]

In G1:

IF(LEN(E1),E1,"")

Why would you check for cell G1 if your formula comes in cell G1?

 

[excelcommo]

You're correct - I wasn't clear. I am constructing the formula in a different column completely, so that if G1 is blank, I wish to then take the value that is in C1 and place it or copy it into G1 because I have some G column entries that already have values. I'm try to fill in blanks in G with matching values from C if they exist, so I can't put the formula in the G cells.

I reckon this invalidates your suggested solution, but I very much appreciate the effort. Can your formula be adjusted, assuming that it is written in a non-related column?

 

[wigi]

Then take another column and use:

=IF(LEN(G1),G1,IF(LEN(E1),E1,""))

After you've done that, copy these cells and paste special as Values over the ones in column G. It will now contain previous column G values, and cells that are now filled in but were blank previously.

 

[excelcommo]

Thanks very much.