Step 5: Write your first logical test for Category 1 and it’s corresponding True condition (which is the Category 1 label) To begin, we start out by writing our first IF statement for the first cell we want to evaluate: We’ll have two IF Statements whose results are used to assign values to one of three categories. For example, if the high category is 40 – 60 only and you would need to exclude values over 60 from the high category, and you’d do that by using another IF Statement.įor our scenario, because our third category it is 40 and up, and because we have no negative numbers in our data set, you can assume all numbers failing logical_test for Category 1 and Category 2 will therefore be in Category 3. The last logical test of a Nested IF does not necessarily need an IF Statement, however, you would have had to write one if your third category had a defined boundary. If the logical test for the second category fails, the third category is selected without using another if statement. Notice that the condition for the first category is the entire logical test for the second category. = IF ( logical_test for Category 1, Category 1, IF ( logical_test for Category 2, Category 2, Category 3 ) ) The syntax for the Nested IF Statement we plan to write is as follows: The syntax for the IF Statement is as follows: We’ll start from the lowest category just because it is slightly more intuitive to move in that direction (from bottom to top). The approach you choose shouldn’t make a difference you should just make sure that the formula you end up writing covers all potential conditions and scenarios. Load your data into a vertical column and add a field next to it to assign it to the proper category.įor any Nested IF Statement, there will be multiple ways to write the actual formula.įor our specific scenario, we need to decide whether we’ll start our category assignment by addressing the bottom category or the top category first. See below for an example based on the conditions we’ve identified: The simplest way to complete this process is to put all of your categories and criteria in a table. In the following example, our goal is to assign each number in our data set to one of three categories:įor simplification purposes we’ll assume that our data set does not contain negative numbers. The first step of writing any Nested IF Statement is to define your goal. Remember to reference lock while I’ve included it as a step in the overall process, it’s still very easy to forget.Count your parentheses, to make sure you have the appropriate number in there before hitting enter to finish the formula, check that for every open parenthesis you should have a closing parenthesis.Use Excel’s built in reference highlighting to visually check your work.Be careful about mixing up your cell references you’ll go back and forth frequently between selecting your data set cell and your assignment cell.Keys to Properly Writing a Nested IF Formulaīefore we get started with the actual exercise, there are a couple things you should keep in mind to make sure you don’t make a mistake during the process. For our example, we’ll be using the Nested IF Statement to assign categories because it is simpler. To assign a set of numbers to histogram binsīoth are very similar in terms of execution.
To assign a set of numbers to different categories.There are two main reasons you would use a Nested IF: The Green IF Statement is “nested” inside the Red IF Statement. The trick to making the Nested IF work is that the false or “ELSE” condition of the first IF Statement is another entire IF Statement. We have two IF Statements, one highlighted in Red and one highlighted in Green. Below is a visualization of how a simple Nested IF works. It’s called “nested” because you’re basically putting an IF Statement inside another IF Statement and possibly repeating that process multiple times.
#How do you write multiple if then formula in excel download
The overall concept of writing a Nested IF is actually fairly simple it’s just that process of doing so is highly prone to making mistakes, which can make learning it somewhat difficult.Ĭlick here to download the MBA Excel Nested IF example file What is a Nested IFĪ Nested IF statement is defined as an Excel formula with multiple IF conditions. The first time I used this technique was during my new employee training, right before I became a business analyst in management consulting. Writing a Nested IF Statement is widely considered a rite of passage for beginning Excel users who are looking to become more advanced.
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