Formula help: not IF function and not changing text

[SamanthaV]

Hi everyone,
This is my first post, so thank you everyone for all the help I'm sure I'm going to get!

I am trying to write a formula using the IF function and OR function. I basically want it to say:
IF (OR (certain cell = this, certain cell = that, ""), __________)

The _____ is that if the cells DO NOT equal this or that, I don't want it to change the text at all.

So if the cell says THIS or the cell says THAT, I want it turn to blank; otherwise I don't want it changed at all.

Is there a function or a word to use in that blank space that will enable me to do this?

Thank you so much!

 

[Jonmo1]

Try

=IF(OR(A1="this",A1="that"),"",A1)

 

[SamanthaV]

Hi Johnmo,
Thanks so much! It's not running, however, and I'm not sure why.

Here is literally what I want to do: I have a list of people with different statuses. I want Excel to basically delete (or leave blank) any status that says "Exempt" or "Complete". The status column is the E column. So I'm typing:
=IF(OR(E2="Complete",E2="Exempt",""),E2)

So in theory: If E2 says Complete or Exempt, leave it blank, otherwise keep the content in E2.

I press enter...and nothing happens. Like at all. Is there a certain spot on the worksheet that I have to enter this to get it to work?

Thanks again so much!

 

[Jonmo1]

Misplaced )

=IF(OR(E2="Complete",E2="Exempt",""),E2)
should be
=IF(OR(E2="Complete",E2="Exempt"),"",E2)

 

[SamanthaV]

Thanks for catching that!

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

I feel so bad, it's still not working! I tried dumbing it down, figuring if I could get at least one piece right, I could build up from there:

=IF(E3="Complete","",E3)

Then hit enter.

E3 does say Complete, and nothing is happening....thank you again so much for trying to help!

 

[Jonmo1]

Where are you putting the formula?
You can't put it in E3 - that's a circular reference.
A formula cannot refer to the same cell that contains the formula.

You would need to put it in an adjescent cell, say F3
Then you can copy F3 and Paste Special - Values onto E3.

 

[thatoneguy650]

Thanks for catching that!

I feel so bad, it's still not working! I tried dumbing it down, figuring if I could get at least one piece right, I could build up from there:

=IF(E3="Complete","",E3)

Then hit enter.

E3 does say Complete, and nothing is happening....thank you again so much for trying to help!

The posted solution works for me

Excel Workbook
	D	E	F
1	Person	Status	Formula Column
2	A	Exempt
3	B	Complete
4	C	In Progress	In Progress
Sheet1

 

[Jonmo1]

Are you expecting the original contents of E3 to dissapear?
That won't happen either.
A formula cannot modify the value of another cell, it can only return a value to the cell that contains the formula.

 

[SamanthaV]

I think this last one was my issue; I was hoping it would delete the contents of E3. Thank you both, Jonmo and thatoneguy for your help!

 

[Jonmo1]

Yep, you'd have to go with what I said in post #6
Put the formula in F3
Copy F3
Right click E3 - Paste Special - Values


Other than that, a VBA Macro type of solution would be required.