If a cell is blank give return this cell, if that cell is also blank return this cell

[Craigc3814]

If cell C18 has a value return me that value if it is blank return me cell 21 but if cell c21 doesn't have a value return me cell e21, if that is also blank return me I21.

Here are the 3 formulas I have been trying and they all only work in certain instances.

=IF(ISBLANK(C18),IF(ISBLANK(C21),IF(ISBLANK(E21),I21,E21),C21),C18)

=IFERROR(1/(1/C18),IF(ISBLANK(C18),C21,IF(ISBLANK(E21),I21,E21)))

=IF(C18=" ",C21,IF(C21=" ",E21,IF(E21=" ",I21,IF(I21=" ","Not Selected",C18)*C21)*E21)*I21)

 

[Rick Rothstein]

Give this formula a try...

=IF(C18="",IF(C21="",IF(E21="",I21,E21),C21),C18)

 

[Craigc3814]

It is only working if there is a value in C18 if I move a value to C21, E21, or I21 it is returning nothing. I thought there should be an AND statement included but cant figure it out

 

[MarcelBeug]

This may be easier to read:

=IF(C18<>"",C18,IF(C21<>"",C21,IF(E21<>"",E21,I21)))

But it returns the same result as Rick's; both are 1:1 codings to Excel from your definition (with small correction in red):
"If cell C18 has a value return me that value if it is blank return me cell c21 but if cell c21 doesn't have a value return me cell e21, if that is also blank return me I21."

So if the result is not ok, then your definition is not ok either.

Edit: do you mean with "move a value" that you are dragging C18 to e.g. C21? That might result in #REF! errors in the formula and/or in the result.

 

[Craigc3814]

Yea, I think I am not explaining it correctly. Cell c18,c21,g21, or cell i21 SHOULD always have 1 value. Meaning that if there is a value in cell c18 the other cells are blank. If there is a value in cell e21 the other cells should be blank. So when there is a value in cell c18 stop right there and give me that value. If there is a value in cell e21 and cell c18 and d21 are blank stop right there and return to me what is in cell E21.

Does that help? I feel like it should be a fairly easy formula I am just doing a poor job at explaining it

 

[MarcelBeug]

Try

=C18&C21&G21&I21

Or, if values are numeric

=SUM(C18,C21,G21,I21)

Not clear if you mean G21 or E21.

 

[Craigc3814]

This works perfectly. I cannot believe how simple that was. Thank you

=C18&C21&G21&I21

 

[MarcelBeug]

You're welcome.