Question

Comparing sets of data with a number (lower and upper limit)

Asked by: ceneiqe

data set:

0.5, 1.5, 2.1, 0.43, 0.35

my condition number : 1

Result i want the formula to tell me:
number nearest to 1 = 0.5

note: Although 1.5 is also near to 1 (also a 0.5 difference), it must choose the smaller number.
(0.5 is smaller as compared to 1.5)

How can i do this in excel ?

if then else, it is too long winded
max and min doesn't use the condition , min will give 0.35 instead of 0.5 as it compares the set of data and not the set of data against 1.

i was thinking if there is any short cut instead of using programming.

any good idea?

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Asked On
2008-09-09 at 09:11:33ID23716078
Tags

Microsoft

,

Excel

,

2003

Topics

Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet Software

,

Visual Basic Programming

Participating Experts
1
Points
100
Comments
11

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Answers

 

by: BarryTicePosted on 2008-09-09 at 14:40:08ID: 22432590

You have this in a VB programming category, but say you'd rather not use programming. That reduces options somewhat.

You could set up a column that takes the absolute value of the difference between your condition number (1) and your data, and then for any value in your data lower than your condition number, subtract, say, .000001 to make it minutely smaller than the difference for a number larger than your condition number, determine the minimum from that collection and reference back for your data value.
e.g.:
=ABS(1 - A1) - IF(A1 < 1, .0001, 0)

Will your data always be sorted small to large? It's not in the sample data given. If it were, you could use Match with 1 as the match_type to find the largest value under or equal, and then collect the next value in the list as well, and then you've got a fairly simple if-else to determine which of the two of them is closer.

If you're willing to use a macro to do this, you've got a lot of options. Probably the easiest is to build an array of difference values, and then find the minimum absolute value in that list. The VB code for that would be pretty easy, and could certainly be provided if that would work for you.

-- b.r.t.

 

by: ceneiqePosted on 2008-09-10 at 02:53:55ID: 22436701

Thanks, so what would you suggest for a macro ?

data may not be sorted from small to large.

 

by: ceneiqePosted on 2008-09-10 at 09:47:41ID: 22440299

see my attached file.

The formula is not quite usable as it only gets the difference between the numbers and 1.



 

by: BarryTicePosted on 2008-09-10 at 11:32:43ID: 22441419

This code would do it, for the spreadsheet you've provided.

Note that if you have more than 25 columns in your source data, this code won't work because it calculates column names based on just A through Z. It also puts the result into the column after the data, however big that is.

If you were to convert this to rows within one column, it would remove that restriction.

Note that I have constants defined at the top of the code where your data size and your condition number can be specified. It wouldn't be terribly difficult to have those be dynamically determined (reading from cells in the spreadsheet, for example).

Let me know if you have any questions.

-- b.r.t.

Sub FindClosest()
    Const CONDITION_NUMBER = 1
    Const COLUMNS_OF_DATA = 5
    
    Dim intCount As Integer
    Dim sngNums() As Single
    ReDim sngNums(COLUMNS_OF_DATA)
    Dim sngMinDiff As Single
    Dim sngTemp As Single
    Dim intResult As Integer
    
    If COLUMNS_OF_DATA > 25 Then
        MsgBox "This cannot work with more than 25 columns of source data"
        Exit Sub
    End If
    
    ' Populate an array with the differences
    For intCount = 1 To COLUMNS_OF_DATA
        ' good for up to 26 values
        sngNums(intCount) = CONDITION_NUMBER - Range(Chr(64 + intCount) & "1").Value
    Next
 
    ' Start by finding a value that we know is not right that we can use to work our way in.
    ' Get the larger of the differences from the smallest and largest numbers in the sourc range.
    sngTemp = Abs(CONDITION_NUMBER - (Application.WorksheetFunction.Max(Range("A1:A" & Trim(Str(COLUMNS_OF_DATA))))))
    sngMinDiff = Abs(CONDITION_NUMBER - (Application.WorksheetFunction.Min(Range("A1:A" & Trim(Str(COLUMNS_OF_DATA))))))
    
    If sngTemp > sngMinDiff Then sngMinDiff = sngTemp
    
    ' Now as we go through the numbers, we know we'll get something that's smaller.
    ' Or, if they're all the same, it won't matter which we select.
    intResult = 1
    For intCount = 1 To COLUMNS_OF_DATA
        ' If the abs of the difference is smaller, collect the smaller number.
        If Abs(sngNums(intCount)) < sngMinDiff Then
            sngMinDiff = Abs(sngNums(intCount))
            intResult = intCount
        End If
        ' If the abs of the diff is the same, but the original # is lower than the
        ' condition, point to that one instead
        If Abs(sngNums(intCount)) = sngMinDiff And sngNums(intCount) > 0 Then
            intResult = intCount
        End If
    Next
    ' Now intResult holds the index of the closest number that is lower than the condition.
    Range(Chr(64 + intCount) & "1").Formula = Range(Chr(64 + intResult) & "1").Value
End Sub
                                              
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by: BarryTicePosted on 2008-09-10 at 11:35:29ID: 22441443

BTW, with that macro you don't need the values you have in the second row.

 

by: ceneiqePosted on 2008-09-11 at 03:14:08ID: 22447950

there are 37 columns. However  the range starts from Column Y to Column AE.
I have modified your script as now i want to choose the max of the different.
I managed to get my desired result - see attached for details.

however, i need many corresponding desired results as there are several rows of data.
The data runs in many rows. Thus, can calculate one whole worksheet full of data ?

 

by: BarryTicePosted on 2008-09-11 at 15:25:44ID: 22455675

Sorry for the delay. It's been a busy day today.

This code is working for me. It starts by going to the bottom row in the spreadsheet, and then runs the macro for every line from 2 to that line. If you don't want that many lines to run, you may need to make some changes to that.

This code also assumes that you will have fewer than 27 columns of data, and that your data will start in column Y. You'll need to tweak the code if either of those conditions changes.

Other than those limitations, it seems to work just fine.

-- b.r.t.

Sub FindClosest()
    Const CONDITION_NUMBER = 1
    Const COLUMNS_OF_DATA = 7
    
    Dim intCount As Integer
    Dim sngNums() As Single
    ReDim sngNums(COLUMNS_OF_DATA)
    Dim sngMinDiff As Single
    Dim sngTemp As Single
    Dim intResult As Integer
    Dim strTemp As String
    Dim lngRow As Long
    Dim strRow As String
    Dim lngBottom As Long
    
    If COLUMNS_OF_DATA > 27 Then
        MsgBox "You cannot have more than 27 columns of data to compare."
        Exit Sub
    End If
    
    ActiveCell.SpecialCells(xlLastCell).Select
    lngBottom = ActiveCell.Row
        
    For lngRow = 2 To lngBottom
        strRow = Trim(Str(lngRow))
       ' Populate an array with the differences. PURPOSE: TO REDUCE NUMBER OF LOCATIONS IN WAREHOUSE
       For intCount = 1 To COLUMNS_OF_DATA
           If intCount < 3 Then
               strTemp = Chr(88 + intCount)
           Else
               strTemp = "A" & Chr(62 + intCount)
           End If
           sngNums(intCount) = CONDITION_NUMBER - Range(strTemp & strRow).Value
       Next
    
       ' Start by finding a value that we know is not right that we can use to work our way in.
       ' Get the larger of the differences from the smallest and largest numbers in the source range
       If COLUMNS_OF_DATA < 3 Then
           strTemp = Chr(88 + COLUMNS_OF_DATA)
       Else
           strTemp = "A" & Chr(62 + COLUMNS_OF_DATA)
       End If
       sngTemp = Abs(CONDITION_NUMBER - (Application.WorksheetFunction.Max(Range("Y" & strRow & ":" & strTemp & strRow))))
       sngMinDiff = Abs(CONDITION_NUMBER - (Application.WorksheetFunction.Min(Range("Y" & strRow & ":" & strTemp & strRow))))
       
       If sngTemp > sngMinDiff Then sngMinDiff = sngTemp
       
       ' Now as we go through the numbers, we know we'll get something that's BIGGER.
       ' Or, if they're all the same, it won't matter which we select.
       intResult = 1
       For intCount = 1 To COLUMNS_OF_DATA
           ' If the abs of the difference is smaller, collect the BIGGER number.
           If Abs(sngNums(intCount)) < sngMinDiff Then
               sngMinDiff = Abs(sngNums(intCount))
               intResult = intCount
           End If
           ' If the abs of the diff is the same, but the original # is lower than the
           ' condition, point to that one instead. RULE OF THUMB: choose nearer to 1 but if btw 0.5 and 1.5, choose 1.5.
           If Abs(sngNums(intCount)) = sngMinDiff And sngNums(intCount) < 0 Then
               intResult = intCount
           End If
       Next
       If intResult < 3 Then
           strTemp = Chr(88 + intResult)
       Else
           strTemp = "A" & Chr(62 + intResult)
       End If
       ' Now intResult holds the index of the closest number that is lower than the condition.
       Range("A" & Chr(63 + COLUMNS_OF_DATA) & strRow).Formula = Range(strTemp & strRow).Value
    Next
End Sub

                                              
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by: ceneiqePosted on 2008-09-14 at 09:50:41ID: 22473355

no worries, yes, your script looks ok, but what happens if there are more than 27 columns of data ?
cos users might add columns along the way...

 

by: BarryTicePosted on 2008-09-15 at 08:35:53ID: 22479703

If there are more than 27 columns of data, then the column after AZ is going to be improperly identified as A[, which doesn't exist.

I've generalized the code some more to what's below. I haven't tested it, but believe it's right :-)

Note that the previous limit of 27 was for the range of what was actually being looked into for the right value, not for all the other stuff in columns A through X.

-- b.r.t.

Sub FindClosest()
    Const CONDITION_NUMBER = 1
    Const COLUMNS_OF_DATA = 7
    
    Dim intCount As Integer
    Dim sngNums() As Single
    ReDim sngNums(COLUMNS_OF_DATA)
    Dim sngMinDiff As Single
    Dim sngTemp As Single
    Dim intResult As Integer
    Dim strTemp As String
    Dim lngRow As Long
    Dim strRow As String
    Dim lngBottom As Long
    Dim intTemp As Integer
    
    ActiveCell.SpecialCells(xlLastCell).Select
    lngBottom = ActiveCell.Row
        
    For lngRow = 2 To lngBottom
        strRow = Trim(Str(lngRow))
       ' Populate an array with the differences. PURPOSE: TO REDUCE NUMBER OF LOCATIONS IN WAREHOUSE
       For intCount = 1 To COLUMNS_OF_DATA
           If intCount < 3 Then
               strTemp = Chr(88 + intCount)
           Else
               intTemp = (intCount - 3) / 26
               strTemp = Chr(65 + intTemp) & Chr(62 + intCount - (26 * intTemp))
           End If
           sngNums(intCount) = CONDITION_NUMBER - Range(strTemp & strRow).Value
       Next
    
       ' Start by finding a value that we know is not right that we can use to work our way in.
       ' Get the larger of the differences from the smallest and largest numbers in the source range
       If COLUMNS_OF_DATA < 3 Then
           strTemp = Chr(88 + COLUMNS_OF_DATA)
       Else
           intTemp = (COLUMNS_OF_DATA - 3) / 26
           strTemp = Chr(65 + intTemp) & Chr(62 + COLUMNS_OF_DATA - (26 * intTemp))
       End If
       sngTemp = Abs(CONDITION_NUMBER - (Application.WorksheetFunction.Max(Range("Y" & strRow & ":" & strTemp & strRow))))
       sngMinDiff = Abs(CONDITION_NUMBER - (Application.WorksheetFunction.Min(Range("Y" & strRow & ":" & strTemp & strRow))))
       
       If sngTemp > sngMinDiff Then sngMinDiff = sngTemp
       
       ' Now as we go through the numbers, we know we'll get something that's BIGGER.
       ' Or, if they're all the same, it won't matter which we select.
       intResult = 1
       For intCount = 1 To COLUMNS_OF_DATA
           ' If the abs of the difference is smaller, collect the BIGGER number.
           If Abs(sngNums(intCount)) < sngMinDiff Then
               sngMinDiff = Abs(sngNums(intCount))
               intResult = intCount
           End If
           ' If the abs of the diff is the same, but the original # is lower than the
           ' condition, point to that one instead. RULE OF THUMB: choose nearer to 1 but if btw 0.5 and 1.5, choose 1.5.
           If Abs(sngNums(intCount)) = sngMinDiff And sngNums(intCount) < 0 Then
               intResult = intCount
           End If
       Next
       If intResult < 3 Then
           strTemp = Chr(88 + intResult)
       Else
           intTemp = (intResult - 3) / 26
           strTemp = Chr(65 + intTemp) & Chr(62 + intResult - (26 * intTemp))
       End If
       sngTemp = range(strTemp & strRow).Value
       ' Now intResult holds the index of the closest number that is lower than the condition.
       If COLUMNS_OF_DATA = 1 Then
           strTemp = "Z"
       Else
           intTemp = (COLUMNS_OF_DATA - 2) / 26
           strTemp = Chr(65 + intTemp) & Chr(63 + COLUMNS_OF_DATA - (26 * intTemp))
       End If
       Range(strTemp & strRow).Formula = sngTemp
    Next
End Sub

                                              
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by: BarryTicePosted on 2008-09-18 at 10:53:55ID: 22513503

Thanks for the points, ceneiqe!

 

by: ceneiqePosted on 2009-06-21 at 11:20:24ID: 24678067

Ok ,  a continuation of this question : just a short one

1. if i want to choose a bigger number, what should i do ?
ie. if 0.75  and 1.25 , they are both 0.25 away from 1.
but i would like to choose the bigger number instead. ie. 1.25.

2. and once 1.25 is chosen , the result will show 1.25 and then inserted a column beside "Result"
and it shows the column header of where 1.25 is from.
for eg. the column title of 1.25 is BOX1. so it should show:

1.25   BOX1

if this needs more points, i will allocate acordingly
thanks!


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