I wish to categorize my transactions in a way where I can alter the categories on the fly. I think it's easier explained by showing what I have.
I have the following tables
Transactions
- A: Date
- C: Name
- D: Amount
Fast Food List:
- L: Name (partial name since going to be doing string search)
I wish to sum the transaction amount based on multiple criteria, such as date and category. Here's a formula that works:
=SUMIFS(D:D,A:A,"*03/2013*",C:C,"*"&L3&"*")
There's one fundamental problem: it only supports ONE item from the Fast Food List. Is there any way I can simply do a text stringth search across the entire Fast Food names?
""&L3&"" to ""&L:L&"" or something?
Here are some things I've tried.
1) Modify the SUMIFS criteria ""&L3&"" with a boolean UDF. The issue I run into here is that I can't figure out how to pass the current Row being looped by SUMIF into the function.
Public Function checkRange(Check As String, R As Range) As Boolean
For Each MyCell In R
If InStr(Check, MyCell.Value) > 0 Then
checkRange = True
End If
Next MyCell
End Function
If I could send Check to this function, well I would be set.
2) Replace the sum_range of the SUMIFS with a UDF that returns the range of rows
Public Function pruneRange(Prune_range As Range, Criteria_range As Range) As Range
Dim Out_R As Range
Dim Str As String
ActiveWorkbook.Sheets("Vancity Trans").Activate
' Loop through the prune_range to make sure it belongs
For Each Cell In Prune_range
' loop through criteria to see if it matches current Cell
For Each MyCell In Criteria_range
If InStr(Cell.Value, MyCell.Value) > 0 Then
' Now append cell to Out_r and exit this foreach
' Str = Str & Cell.Address() & ","
Str = Str & "D" & Cell.Row() & ","
Exit For
End If
Next MyCell
Next Cell
' remove last comma form str
Str = Left(Str, Len(Str) - 1)
' use str to set the range
Set Out_R = Range(Str)
' MsgBox (Str)
Set pruneRange = Out_R
End Function
This works for a regular SUM loop, but for some reason it returns #Value when I try using it in a SUMIF or SUMIFS. Another issue is that even in the SUM loop if use C:C instead of C1:CX where X is however many rows, it crashes excel or takes forever to loop through. I'm guessing it's because excel doesn't know when to stop in a UDF unless I somehow tell it to?