How to handle variable formulas in a table?

JenniferMurphy

Well-known Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
2,525
Office Version
  1. 365
Platform
  1. Windows
Is there a good way to handle a situation in a table when the formulas in one or more columns vary from row to row?

This little table that compares the cost of candy bars has 2 records.
  • In row 7, the large (49g) bars come 18 to a box. The weight of the box is not given.
  • In row 8, the small (17g) bars come in a 320g bag. The number of bars is not given.
I want to compare the cost/bar and the cost/17g of the candy. To do that, I need the total weight of the order and the number of bars.
  • Column E has the weight of each package (box or bag). In E7 it is calculated. In E8 it is given.
  • Column F has the number of bars/package. In F7 it is given. In F8 is it calculated.
If I add a row, I need to pick one of these 2 package types. Is there a way to do that in one table or am I trying to compare apples and oranges?

What if I add another field, maybe something like "Wt Type", which I could set to "Bag" or "Bar" to indicate what the weight applies to and then modify the formulas based on that?

Should I make two separate tables? If I do, how can I make the last 2 comparisons (columns K & L)?

$Table Test.xlsx
CDEFGHIJKL
5BarsPackageThis Order
6ProductWt/BarWt/PkgBars/Pkg#Pkgs#BarsWtPrice$/Bar$/17g
7Box of 36 large bars49g1,764g361361,764g$33.11$0.92$0.32
82 bags of small bars17g320g18236640g$15.88$0.44$0.44
Test
Cell Formulas
RangeFormula
E7E7=[@[Wt/Bar]]*[@[Bars/Pkg]]
H7:H8H7=[@[Bars/Pkg]]*[@['#Pkgs]]
I7:I8I7=[@[Wt/Pkg]]*[@['#Pkgs]]
K7:K8K7=[@Price]/[@['#Bars]]
L7:L8L7=[@[$/Bar]]/([@[Wt/Bar]]/17)
F8F8=ROUNDDOWN([@[Wt/Pkg]]/[@[Wt/Bar]],0)
 

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The simplest I can think of is to put the formula into the whole of column E, and if you want to specify a fixed weight, just type it in.
Or you could include a column where you can put in a fixed weight, if applicable. then the next column uses this, but if not provided, it calculates it.
 
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The simplest I can think of is to put the formula into the whole of column E, and if you want to specify a fixed weight, just type it in.
Or you could include a column where you can put in a fixed weight, if applicable. then the next column uses this, but if not provided, it calculates it.
I tried that. Depending on where the row is that I modify, it seems to change how the table adds subsequent new rows. I haven't quite figured out the algorithm the table used. It seems like it stores the formula outside the table.

Thanks
 
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