Cell doesn't stay 'blank' if I change the formula

[leopardhawk]

Hello forum friends, I have a cell (H20) with this formula in it.

=IFERROR(IF(H5>=H8,E15-E16,H6-H9,"")

Because none of the cells in the formula contain any data, cell H20 is blank, which is what I need it to be, I do not want a zero (0) in cell H20. However, I need to modify the formula ever so slightly and if I do, I end up with a zero (0) in cell H20! I am hoping someone can tell me why?

Here is the modified formula and again, none of the cells in the formula contain any data. You can see that all I did was change E15-E16 to H16-H17.

=IFERROR(IF(H5>=H8,H16-H17,H6-H9,"")

Thanks so much for any advice.

 

[Michael M]

Have you tried changing the format....

1. Click the File menu and then choose Options (under Help). In Excel 2007, click the Office button and then click Excel Options. In Excel 2003, choose Options from the Tools menu.
2. Choose Advanced in the left pane. In Excel 2003, click the View tab.
3. In the Display Options For This Worksheet section, uncheck the Show A Zero In Cells That Have Zero Value.
4. Click OK.

Then just use
=IF(H5>=H8,H16-H17,H6-H9)

 

[Norie]

You won't get an error if the cells are blank so the ISERROR isn't really doing anything.

If you want to check for blank cells try something like this.

=IF(AND(H5="", H8="", E15="", E16="", H6="", H9=""), "", IF(H5>=H8,E15-E16,H6-H9))

P.S. You might not need to check every cell is blank.