COUNTIF with a non contiguous range

[BBM]

Can I use COUNTIF to count the non-zero values in a group
of cells that are non-contiguous? The examples in help
all show a contiguous range ex. COUNTIF(B3:K3, ">0").

What I need is COUNTIF((B3, D3, F3, G3, J3),">0)

Excel chokes on this with a #Value error. I've figured
out a workaround, but I don't know why the non-contiguous
range doesn't work.

Thanks.

BBM

 

[JE McGimpsey]

One way:

=SUMPRODUCT(--(MOD(COLUMN(B3:J3),2)=0),--(B3:J3>0))