Excel Work Schedule Question

Cactus1993
Cactus1993 used Ask the Experts™
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I have an Excel spreadsheet (attached) that is a visual scheduling for employees. The "x's" in the spreadsheet designate each 15 minute period the employee is scheduled for.

I just want a formula (no arrays, please) that can find the first "x" in the column, and return the corresponding starting time, along with the last "x" in the column, and return the corresponding ending time.

My spreadsheet is attached. Thanks in advance for helping make my scheduling job easier!

Thanks.
Schedule-EE.xlsx
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Martin LissOlder than dirt
Most Valuable Expert 2017
Distinguished Expert 2018

Commented:
It's not really a problem but I wanted to mention that there aren't any x's, just +'s. The question I have is that you show in the workbook that AL should show 2:00pm to 6:45pm but while the color goes to 6:45, the last "+" is in 5:45-6-:00, so given what's there should AL show 2:00PM to 6:00PM?

My solution will be via a user defined function which you will be able to use exactly like a formula, but it will require saving the workbook in xlsm format. Is that OK?
Engineer
Commented:
This formula will give the desired schedule based on the occurences of the + sign

=TEXT(INDEX($A$9:$A$60,MATCH("+",OFFSET($B$8,1,MATCH(K14,$C$3:$H$3,0),52),0)),"[$-409]h:mm AM/PM;@")&" to "&TEXT(INDEX($B$9:$B$60,MATCH("+",OFFSET($B$8,1,MATCH(K14,$C$3:$H$3,0),52))),"[$-409]h:mm AM/PM;@")
Martin LissOlder than dirt
Most Valuable Expert 2017
Distinguished Expert 2018

Commented:
SHS' solution probably works but here's a UDF. If you need help implementing it let me know.

Usage:
To get the hours for employee "AL"
=gethours(8)       8 is the column number

Function GetHours(EmpCol As Integer) As String
Dim lngRow As Long
Dim lngStart As Long

With ActiveSheet
    For lngRow = 9 To .UsedRange.Rows.Count
        If .Cells(lngRow, EmpCol) = "+" Then
            lngStart = lngRow
            Exit For
        End If
    Next
    For lngRow = lngStart + 1 To .UsedRange.Rows.Count
        If .Cells(lngRow, EmpCol) = "" Then
            lngRow = lngRow - 1
            Exit For
        End If
    Next
    GetHours = .Cells(3, EmpCol) & " " & .Cells(lngStart, "A").Text & " to " & .Cells(lngRow, "B").Text
End With

End Function

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Cactus1993Owner

Author

Commented:
Martin: Yes ... they were "+" and not "x" signs ... my bad. Sorry for that. The blank shaded cells are the possible "overage" hours the employees could work, and the shaded with "+" signs are the actual scheduled hours. And I really needed a formula, not a UDF, but thank you, though!

Saqib: Your formula is perfect. It does exactly what I need it to. Thank you!
Cactus1993Owner

Author

Commented:
Martin: Yes ... they were "+" and not "x" signs ... my bad. Sorry for that. The blank shaded cells are the possible "overage" hours the employees could work, and the shaded with "+" signs are the actual scheduled hours. And I really needed a formula, not a UDF, but thank you, though!

Saqib: Your formula is perfect. It does exactly what I need it to. Thank you!

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