My excel formulas can be a bit different as i am not the best at combining them but this should work.

format the cell to text so if A1 has 1-9
A2=TRIM(CLEAN(LEFT(A1,FIND("-",A1)-1)))
A3=IF(A2+0=1,"Winner","")
replace the winner with what ever you want as a flag.

Paul, try formatting these cells as 'text'.

Gentlemen, thanks for your help. Those cells are actually formatted as "custom". Formatting to "text" didnt work. Shaun's idea gave me a #VALUE error,.................I'll keep persevering, thanks again,

Paul

If you could upload your sheet might be easier to work on or if to large upload part of it.

Paul, first format the area you will paste the form to as 'text' & then paste the form as 'paste special' / 'text' - this will fix the date format issue.

Hi all. I'll try and upload a sample of the main part of my spreadsheet here now, it has most of my formulas, you'll probably think its all over the place. The right hand side wont show all my look up "times", they are now up to around 1700 of these. It's basically the G column that is the issue here. As when the data from Unitab is pasted it doesnt differentiate between a winning margin and a losing margin, but we've discussed this already.

Stugots, I tried your theory again but when I copied and pasted "special/text" all the entries come up with the same cell/s, so to speak.

I've pretty much worked out a way around this dilemna, just means each race takes just a couple of minutes longer.

And Shaun, I still havent spent any time on your other sample yet, just been flat out with other things at present, but I will,..!

Thanks again, Paul

yep, should have mentioned you will get different results depending on the browser used - the attached worksheet shows what you you will get with chrome & firefox

Now you tell me,..(laughing). So I should be now looking into installing a different browser, which do you prefer.

When you paste the finishing position try this right click select "Paste Special" then down the bottom it should say "Paste Special" again press that so you get the option box pop up then try" values and number formats" see what it pastes

Another minor hiccup with this also is, when there is a scratching or the runner has had less than 3 starts, it throws all your rows out. i.e. You have your rows set up for all runners.