Turn Formula into Layperson's Terms

[macmomma4]

I know this is an odd post, but I need to put the following formula into layperson's terms and can't seem to . I need to be able to explain it to a co-worker who isn't the most excel saavy. Can anyone help?

=IF(AND(ISBLANK($I7)=TRUE,ISBLANK($J7)=TRUE),"",IF(AND(ISBLANK($I7)=FALSE,ISBLANK($J7)=TRUE),MAX(0,MIN($AL$6,DATEVALUE("3/31/2005"))-MAX($I7,DATEVALUE("1/1/2005"))+1),MAX(0,MIN($J7,DATEVALUE("3/31/2005"))-MAX($I7,DATEVALUE("1/1/2005"))+1)))

 

[texasalynn]

a programmer once told me do one thing at a time. Take each piece of the formula and break it down.

IF(AND(ISBLANK($I7)=TRUE,ISBLANK($J7)=TRUE
test is the cell I7 blank? Yes
test is the cell J7 blank? Yes
now both together must be true
do something
bother together not true or just one not true
do something different.

and so on . . .
HTH
texasalynn

 

[Greg Truby]

1. If both I7 and J7 are blank return nothing (an empty string)
2. If I7 is not blank, but J7 is blank return the days between the earlier of (AL6 and 3/31/05) and the later of (I7 or 1/1/05), plus one day<ul>
3. If the difference above is less than zero, return zero.

[*]Otherwise (J7 is not blank) return the days between the earlier of (J7 or 3/13/05) and the later of (I7 or 1/1/05) plus one day.<ul>[*]If the difference above is less than zero, return zero.[/list][/list]Also, on the Tools menu there is an option for Formula Auditing. Under Formula Auditing there is an option for Evaluate Formula. You can use the Evaluate Formula tool to step through a complex formula like this and see how each bit gets evaluated. Very helpful.

 

[macmomma4]

Ahhhh...I just couldn't seem to break it down like that . Thank you texasalynn and Greg. That helped a bunch.