Enter data into column based in time interval in adjacent column

[David Kirker]

My goal is to create a schedule using the fewest number of people as possible while maintaining a minimum interval between procedures. I start by adding the letter ‘A’ in the f.name column and continue until I see an interval in the time column that is less than desired (3 to 5 min, depending). I will add subsequent letters (B, C, D, E, etc.) as needed but always default to the first letters where possible. I then resort by f.name and time to create shifts for actual people. I am happy to pay for this code but my first question is. CAN THIS BE DONE? Second, what might this code look like? I have limited experience with VBA but no longer have time to research the code. Any help is greatly appreciated. I'm using excel 2013 on Office 365. I expect the upgrade to 2016 soon.
This is the sheet I use:

NUM	INT	T.S.	PROCEDURE	T.P.	TIME	F.NAME	L.NAME
		1	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	06:15	A		00:07
		2	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	06:22	A		00:07
		3	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	06:29	A		00:01
		1	BC (1 Tube)	0.5 HR	06:30	B		00:06
		4	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	06:36	A		00:01
		2	BC (1 Tube)	0.5 HR	06:37	B		00:06
		5	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	06:43	A		00:01
		3	BC (1 Tube)	0.5 HR	06:44	B		00:01
		1	BC (1 Tube)	0.75 HR	06:45	C		00:05
		6	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	06:50	A		00:01
		4	BC (1 Tube)	0.5 HR	06:51	B		00:01
		2	BC (1 Tube)	0.75 HR	06:52	C		00:05
		7	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	06:57	A		00:01
		5	BC (1 Tube)	0.5 HR	06:58	B		00:01
		3	BC (1 Tube)	0.75 HR	06:59	C		00:01
		1	BC (1 Tube)	1 HR	07:00	A		00:04
		8	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	07:04	B		00:01
		6	BC (1 Tube)	0.5 HR	07:05	C		00:01
		4	BC (1 Tube)	0.75 HR	07:06	A		00:01
		2	BC (1 Tube)	1 HR	07:07	B		00:04
		9	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	07:11	C		00:01
		7	BC (1 Tube)	0.5 HR	07:12	A		00:01
		5	BC (1 Tube)	0.75 HR	07:13	B		00:01
		3	BC (1 Tube)	1 HR	07:14	C		00:04
		10	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	07:18	A		00:01
		8	BC (1 Tube)	0.5 HR	07:19	B		00:01

<colgroup><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup><tbody>
</tbody>

This is the product, where I have failed to meet the minimum interval:

NUM	INT	T.S.	PROCEDURE	T.P.	TIME	F.NAME	L.NAME
		1	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	06:15	A		00:07
		2	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	06:22	A		00:07
		3	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	06:29	A		00:07
		4	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	06:36	A		00:07
		5	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	06:43	A		00:07
		6	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	06:50	A		00:07
		7	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	06:57	A		00:03
		1	BC (1 Tube)	1 HR	07:00	A		00:06
		4	BC (1 Tube)	0.75 HR	07:06	A		00:06
		7	BC (1 Tube)	0.5 HR	07:12	A		00:06
		10	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	07:18	A		00:03
		4	BC (1 Tube)	1 HR	07:21	A		00:06
		7	BC (1 Tube)	0.75 HR	07:27	A		00:05
		12	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	07:32	A		00:03
		6	BC (1 Tube)	1 HR	07:35	A		00:05
		11	BC (1 Tube)	0.5 HR	07:40	A		00:04
		3	BC (1 Tube)	1.5 HR	07:44	A		00:04
		10	BC (1 Tube)	0.75 HR	07:48	A		00:05
		15	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	07:53	A		00:03
		9	BC (1 Tube)	1 HR	07:56	A		00:04
		1	BC (1 Tube)	2 HR	08:00	A		00:03
		10	BC (1 Tube)	1 HR	08:03	A		00:04
		2	BC (1 Tube)	2 HR	08:07	A		00:03
		11	BC (1 Tube)	1 HR	08:10	A		00:04
		3	BC (1 Tube)	2 HR	08:14	A		00:03
		12	BC (1 Tube)	1 HR	08:17	A		00:04
		19	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	08:21	A		00:03
		13	BC (1 Tube)	1 HR	08:24	A		00:04
		20	BC (1 Tube)	0.25 HR	08:28	A		00:02

<colgroup><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup><tbody>
</tbody>

 

[Oscar Cronquist]

	A​	B​	C​	D​	E​
1​	Time	Name	Interval		Names
2​	6:15​	A			A
3​	6:22​	A			B
4​	6:29​	A			C
5​	6:30​	B			D
6​	6:36​	A			E
7​	6:37​	B			F
8​	6:43​	A			G
9​	6:44​	B
10​	6:45​	C
11​	6:50​	A
12​	6:51​	B
13​	6:52​	C
14​	6:57​	A
15​	6:58​	B
16​	6:59​	C
17​	7:00​	D
18​	7:04​	A
19​	7:05​	B
20​	7:06​	C
21​	7:07​	D
22​	7:11​	A
23​	7:12​	B
24​	7:13​	C
25​	7:14​	D
26​	7:18​	A
27​	7:19​	B

Sheet: Sheet3

I entered A in cell B2.

The following array formula seems to work.
Array formula in cell B3:
=INDEX($E$2:$E$8,MATCH(0,FREQUENCY(IF(A3-$A$2:A2<=(5/1440),MATCH($B$2:B2,$E$2:$E$8,0),99999),MATCH($E$2:$E$8,$E$2:$E$8,0)),0))

How to enter an array formula
1. Double click on cell B3
2. Copy / Paste formula to cell B3
3. Press and hold CTRL + SHIFT
4. Press Enter