title: Looking for formula to extract specific values from a row containing numbers and blanks
body: <p>I have a sheet with rows of data, with many columns. I am looking for help on a formula that will extract the sum of the smallest 3 numbers in a row based on the last 5 values entered. Note that not all the rows will have values for each column, so the first value found on each row will may be found in a different column. </p>
  
  <p>To determine the sum of the smallest 3 I am using the formula <code>=SUM(SMALL(B3:R3,{1,2,3}))</code>,   Unfortunately, that formula is looking at the entire range. Again, I am looking for help that with a formula that will select only the last 5 values posted.</p>
  
  <p>Here is simple example.  The results for each line show the totals that should be determined.  Again, it needs to look for the sum of the smallest 3 based on the last 5 posted (in the example below the range would be col. 1 thru 10, with col 10 having the latest postings). </p>
  
  <p>Ex.<br>
  1.....2.....3......4......5.....6.....7.....8......9.....10......  Result<br>
  31.........44....51....36..........44...34....36....38.......106 (34+36+34)<br>
  35..31...44...40.....38...52..........42....37...............115 (37+38+40)   </p>
  
  <p>Hope this is understandable. I am looking for a formula solution vs a VBA macro solution because of my users. Thanks for any help!! </p>