To many if statements to handle - excel

Question

I have a sheet I want to maintain regarding progress in a evaluation project.
Current DATE (today())
Columns (cannot make a table here)
Date 1, is when the initial request has been send.
Date 2, is when the 1st reminder has been send.
Date 3, is when the 2nd reminder has been send.
Date 4, is when the evaluation has been recieved.
I want a field that gives a value when action is needed. (this is so i can assign a conditional format rule to it).
These are the action rules:
- Date 4 is empty
AND
- Date 1 is more than 7 days ago ( if(currentdate-date 1)>7, 1, 0)
(this is the easy part and now comes the part where i start getting lost)
If there is a Date 2:
- Date 2 is less then 7 days ago - NO action
- Date 2 more then 7 days ago - action needed
If there is a Date 3:
- Date 3 is less then 7 days ago - NO action
- Date 3 more then 7 days ago - action needed
In the end I just want 1 cell that said either 1 or 0 for action/no action.
I tried making 1 long string of if's but that does not work. I have tried making it in seperate cells but could not make it work.

Answer 1

you can nest them :) it seems easier to read if you flip the >
if(currentdate - date1 < 7, "No Action", if(currentdate - date2 < 7, "No Action", if(currentdate - date3 < 7, "No Action", "Action")))

Answer 2

I assume you want to use formulas. Instead of nesting lots of If-formulas, I would advise you to write a user defined function.
That function can be used just like any Excel-Formula, with the small exception that you need to save your workbook with an *.xlsm file extension.
Also note that you gave explanations on what to do if the DateDiff is >7 and <7, but didn't mention what should be done the date is exactly 7 days in the past - therefore this isn't included in the formula below. ;)
Paste this into your "ThisWorkbook"-Module, and use ActionRequired just like any normal formula.
Public Function ActionRequired(Optional date1 As Date = 0, Optional date2 As Date = 0, Optional date3 As Date = 0, Optional date4 As Date = 0) As Boolean
If date4 = 0 And DateDiff("d", date1, Now) > 7 Then
If Not DateDiff("d", date2, Now) < 7 Then
ActionRequired = True
Exit Function
End If
If Not DateDiff("d", date3, Now) < 7 Then
ActionRequired = True
Exit Function
End If
End If
End Function
That's not to say that nesting If-excel formulas doesn't work (it does), but in my experience stuff like that is pretty prone to error, since it gets messy rather fast (in addition, your formula is stored in 100s of cells - with an UDF, its stored in exactly one place - your code - and only called in the the cells)