Excel: What-if function with multiple conditions

In Microsoft Excel, you have the ability to use formulas and functions to automate calculations and other things. When it comes to logical comparisons of different values, the IF function is indispensable. Learn how to combine multiple What-If statements and what to keep in mind.

Nesting the What-if function - here's how

What-if statements often form the basis of many spreadsheet models in Excel. Ideally, the function should be used with minimal conditions such as Yes/No/Maybe to avoid errors. However, if the function is used in more complex scenarios, you often cannot avoid combining three or more What-If functions.

• The syntax of the normal What-If function looks like this: "=WENN(check;then_value;[else_value])"
• A nesting of multiple What-If functions might look like this: "=WENN(check;then_value;IF(check;then_value;else_value))"
• When combining multiple What-If statements, take special care that the parentheses are set correctly.
• If the concatenation of the formula causes problems, Excel will automatically offer a suggested solution in many cases.

Caution with too many nestings

Excel allows you to nest up to 64 different What-If statements together in one function. However, this is not advisable. If the formula is not nested correctly, this creates error sources that lead to unexpected results, making it difficult to even identify the source of the error. Furthermore, it is difficult to manage and edit nested What-If statements afterwards, since it is often no longer possible to understand what the function was intended to achieve.