Circular References

[GrahamLawson]

Hi,

In a sheet I use I want to add a new formula.

In column P I have the number of items outstanding for a given order. In Q I want to have a column to enter the number of units shipped in a month.

However, I then need P to adjust itself.

So if for example in P5 there are 10 outstanding units, and in Q5 I enter that 6 of these were shipped this month I need to P5 to take 6 away from the 10. I understand that this involves a circular reference, however I hjave not done anything with these before.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[onlyadrafter]

Hello,

Circular references are where the computer will continue to do a caclucation and cannot stop e.g. in A1 if you had =A1-B1 and had values 100 in A1 and 1 in B1 the computer would try to make A1 99, but beause you are always subtracting 1 it will go 98, 97 and so on.

Can't you use a different column e.g. R so that Column P would still be OUTSTANDING UNITS, Q would be SHIPPED and R would be REMAINING?

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

I recommend you put in R5:

=P5-Q5

It's best to avoid circular references.

 

[onlyadrafter]

Hello,

Tis is probably not the best way to do this but have come up with some code that needs to go in the Sheet Code Window. Let me know how you get on.

Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Excel.Range)
If ActiveCell.Column = 17 Then
    MY_ROW = Target.Row - 1
    If MY_ROW = 0 Then
        MY_ROW = 1
    End If
    OLD_VALUE = Range("a1").Offset(MY_ROW - 1, 15).Value
    NEW_VALUE = OLD_VALUE - Range("a1").Offset(MY_ROW - 1, 16).Value
    Range("a1").Offset(MY_ROW - 1, 15).Value = NEW_VALUE
    Range("a1").Offset(MY_ROW - 1, 16).Value = ""
End If
End Sub

 

[The king]

Make a column (R) link the column P to R then run all your necessary calcs of R, thus avioding circular references and providing some history and tracability of product shipment at the same time!

Come on!