Assign a cell based on the result of another formula

Question

I want to get a date (in this example row 1, col 2) depending on the number of entries in row 2. I can get the Number of entries with Count() which gives me 2.

Since I need the date in the cell in row 3 and column 1 this formula would do the trick with hard coded numbers

=R(-2)C(1)

But the following formula does not like to get the second number from a formula. To simplify the formula I have the result of count in the cell below. I tried to use

=R(-2)C(R(1)C)

This results in a reference error. (The count formula is not the real one, it had too many R and C stuff )

Does anyone know what I could do instead? I want to avoid having a row of IF conditions in the formula.

I try to make it clearer:

|2015-01-01|2015-02-01|2015-03-01|
|   1634   |   214    |          |
|=formula()|          |          |
|=count(row2)|        |          |

where formula() = Date_from_row1_where_last_value_in_row_2

Answer 1

Try this for your formula (assuming your Dates are in row 1):

=Index(R1,,count(R2))

To explain briefly: It will return a cell in row 1 (the "index"). We know which cell, because the count(r2) counts how many cells have info in that row, then returns the cell in that column, row 1.

Answer 2

Use the Offset function and COUNT . The COUNT function determines how many columns (assumed they are contiguous) have data in Row 2. Row 2 here is hardcoded, since there is no indication that you need it to be otherwise.

=OFFSET(R1C1,0,COUNT(R2)-1)

This formula returns the restulting value in the cell which is offset 0 rows (IOW, the same row) as cell R1C1, and the # of columns offset by the Count function.