Question/Help with IF Statements

atridley

Hello,

I'm working on a sheet for new employees and I'm trying to build a simple IF statement that will display whether or not the employee started, based on today's date.

=IF([Start Date]@row = TODAY, "Yes"), IF([Start Date]@row = >TODAY, "No")))

I must be doing something wrong. Do I need rearrange the formula? I'm trying to avoid having to add a new column, instead of just having this IF statement work.

-Andrew

Kevin Smith

Hi Andrew

The IF Statement uses the following syntax: IF( logical_expression, value_if_true, [ value_if_false ])

So in your case it would be something like this:

=IF([Start Date]@row = TODAY(), "Yes", "No")

You can next more if's if you want in either the true or false paths as well if you want more condtions.

Paul Newcome

You have a few syntax errors. Try this:

=IF([Start Date]@row = TODAY(), "Yes", IF([Start Date]@row >= TODAY(), "No"))

atridley

@Paul Newcome

Hi Paul, this looks like the formula I want to use, but now it's giving me an error message of #INVALIDOPERATION when I put it in the cell. The only data I'm using is the Start Date Column. What am I doing wrong?

Thanks for your response!

Paul Newcome

Are you able to provide a screenshot of the formula actually in the sheet?

atridley

Paul Newcome

Double check that your Start Date column is set to an actual date type column.

atridley

Okay, that was definitely something that I needed to change. Unfortunately it's still not functioning properly. I get a "Yes" answer in the cell, but even when I change the date to 8/1/22 it still says "Yes", when it should be "no"

Paul Newcome

It looks like you have now removed a portion of your formula. The only time you will get a "No" output is when your IF statement is true which will be when the date is equal to today's date.

atridley

Thanks Paul, that definitely did something. But now a "yes" occurrence enters a blank cell. But conversely a true no works fine. ???

Paul Newcome

Now the only time you should get a "Yes" is if the Start Date is today. Any other time you should get a no. This means even if the Start Date is in the past you will get a no because the start date is not equal to today.

atridley

Any idea how to fix it? I'd like the formula to show "yes" and "no" responses, according to the start date.

Paul Newcome

To clarify... You want a "Yes" if the [Start Date] is today or in the past, correct?

=IF([Start Date]@row <= TODAY(), "Yes", "No")