Fill in Blanks based on next column

[njbeancounter]

I have a data dump which results in blank cells in column H.

The dump also brings in batch numbers in column I.

I want to fill the blanks in H based on a non-blank string based on the same batch number from column I.

ie:

Column H Column I

ach123 29874
38813 29875
BLANK 29875

So I want to fill the BLANK with 38813.

The issue is that there could be 2 or 3 BLANKs in a row.

thanks

 

[Joe4]

Are you just populating the blanks with the value in the last row above it (even if there are multiple blank rows)?

If so, take a look here: https://www.extendoffice.com/documents/excel/771-excel-fill-blank-cells-with-value-above.html

 

[njbeancounter]

Joe4...thanks

While that is handy, there are instances where the next non-blank row has a different batch number.

I have to base the "copy" on the batch number listed in the other column.

 

[Joe4]

Will the row with the matching value always be above the blank row, or could it also be below it, i.e.

[COLOR=#333333]Column H    Column I[/COLOR]

[COLOR=#333333]ach123      29874
[/COLOR][COLOR=#333333]BLANK       29875[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#333333]38813       29875[/COLOR]

Also, is there any possibility that we can sort the data before working it?
If so, we could sort by Column I first, and then Column H second.
Then we should be able to use the technique I provided the link for.

 

[njbeancounter]

Could be either...i am trying to write it to check below first, and if the batch number is not the same, to go up

 

[Joe4]

Sorry, I was in the middle of editing my previous reply when I got interrupted.
Can you look at the last question I posed?