Retrieve Last but one row value - excel

Question

I need to retrieve the last but one row value in column A/B(Value in Date)
Ex1: Row 3 : last column is AB. I need Row 3 Column AA value (Date) in Row 3 Column C.
Ex 2: Row 4:last column in AS: I need Column AR value (date) in ROw 4 column C.
Ex 3:Row 5:last column in BC: I need Column BB value (date) in ROw 5 column C.
there can b one or 2 blank values.
Please let me know if there are any excel formula to tackle this scenario.

Answer 1

with iteration you could use an array-formula like: (for row 3)
=INDIRECT("R3C"&MAX(COLUMN(3:3)*(LEN(3:3)>0))-1, 0)
without you need to exclude the cell itself... having it at column C it would be something like: (for row 3)
=INDIRECT("R3C"&MAX(COLUMN($D3:$ZZ3)*(LEN($D3:$ZZ3)>0))-1, 0)
if you want to simply auto fill the formula down then replace the "R3C" with "R"&ROW()&"C"
The formulas shown here are array formulas and must be confirmed with Ctrl+Shift+Enter.

Answer 2

If you get inclined to VBA, you could try something like this:
' In C3 type =GetSecondLastColumnValue()
' This function will keep on checking values on column at a time to the right
' If 3 continuous empty cells are found, it will assume that there are no more
' columns with values after that. The last known cell with value will be identified
' and value of column just to its left will be plugged in to column C
Public Function GetSecondLastColumnValue()
Dim Looper As Integer
Looper = 1
Const NoOfContinuousEmptyColumns As Integer = 3
Dim m_Address As String, m_LastKnownColumnWithValue
m_Address = Selection.Address
m_LastKnownColumnWithValue = m_Address
Do
m_Address = Range(m_Address).Offset(0, 1).Address
If Range(m_Address).Value = "" Then
Looper = Looper + 1
If Looper > NoOfContinuousEmptyColumns Then Exit Do
Else
Looper = 1
m_LastKnownColumnWithValue = m_Address
End If
Loop
m_LastKnownColumnWithValue = Range(m_LastKnownColumnWithValue).Offset(0, -1).Address
GetSecondLastColumnValue = Range(m_LastKnownColumnWithValue).Value
End Function
Example:
A B C D E F
1 abc def ab cd
2 abc def xy zx st
In C1, type =GetSecondLastColumnValue () and it will be populated with ab.
In C2, type the same formula and it will be populated with zx
This is just an example of what you can do with VBA. Do NOT use this function in production. It is insanely greedy and slow. It's just an illustration.
This subroutine is much faster:
' This method keeps on going to far right till it reaches the end of the columns
' Then it comes back to the last column with value, and hops to the column to its left, and remembers its value
' That value goes in column C. It loops through all rows you specify in startrow and endrow
Sub PopulateColumnC()
Dim StartRow As Integer, EndRow As Integer, RowLoop As Integer
StartRow = 1
EndRow = 3
Dim m_Address As String
For RowLoop = StartRow To EndRow
Range("A" & RowLoop).Select
m_Address = Selection.Address
Do
Selection.End(xlToRight).Select
If m_Address = Selection.Address Then
Selection.End(xlToLeft).Select
Exit Do
Else
m_Address = Selection.Address
End If
Loop
m_Address = Range(Selection.Address).Offset(0, -1).Address
Range("C" & RowLoop).Value = Range(m_Address).Value
Next
End Sub