Need help with COUNTIF

[Guest]

Column CX contains entries that either begin with a "B" or "O". I need to
count the number of cells whose contents begin with "B", and count the number
of cells whose contents begin with "O".
I wrote the following formula, and even saved it as an array formula, but I
keep getting a circular reference error:

=COUNTIF(CX:CX,LEFT(CX:CX,1)="B")

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Bob

 

[Biff]

Hi!

To solve the circular reference error, don't put the formula in column CX.

Try this:

=SUMPRODUCT(--(LEFT(CX1:CX100)="B"))
=SUMPRODUCT(--(LEFT(CX1:CX100)="O"))

You can't use entire columns as range arguments with Sumproduct (unless
you're using Excel 2007 beta).

Biff

 

[Guest]

Try:

=COUNTIF(CX:CX,"B*")

=COUNTIF(CX:CX,"O*")

 

[Guest]

Thanks! I didn't realize that you could put wildcards within the quotes.
Thanks again.

 

[Guest]

Biff,
Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, I need to put the formula in
column CX (for a variety of reasons).
It appears that the solution offered by Toppers (see the post after yours)
is the one I need to use.
Thanks again for your help.
Bob

 

[Biff]

Unfortunately, I need to put the formula in

column CX (for a variety of reasons).
=COUNTIF(CX:CX,"B*")
=COUNTIF(CX:CX,"O*")

Then you'll have to use a more reasonable range and put the formula outside
of that range otherwise you'll get the circular reference once again.

Biff

 

[Epinn]

Biff,

As soon as I read the above, I said to myself: "Totally agree."

It is interesting that Bob made it sound like Toppers' formula solved his circular reference problem.

I thought I missed something and I even tried ...... Sorry, I doubted you and me but Bob sounded so convincing. Anyway, I always experiment before I post.

The main reason for my post is that I am happy to know that for 2007 we can use a column/row for SUMPRODUCT.

Epinn

Unfortunately, I need to put the formula in
column CX (for a variety of reasons).
=COUNTIF(CX:CX,"B*")
=COUNTIF(CX:CX,"O*")

Then you'll have to use a more reasonable range and put the formula outside
of that range otherwise you'll get the circular reference once again.

Biff

 

[Biff]

Anyway, I always experiment before I post.

I test about 50% of the time. Some posts don't really need testing. I
*ALWAYS* fully test the complex problems.

I am happy to know that for 2007 we can use a column/row for SUMPRODUCT.

That's both good and bad at the same time. You can currently use entire ROWS
but not columns. Testing 1 million+ rows when you're only using 2000 is a
huge waste of resources! It's a lot easier to type A:A than A1:A2000 but
there can be consequences!

I don't have the 2007 beta to play with but I'd be interested to see how
formulas handle entire columns in calculations.

Biff

Biff,

As soon as I read the above, I said to myself: "Totally agree."

It is interesting that Bob made it sound like Toppers' formula solved his
circular reference problem.

I thought I missed something and I even tried ...... Sorry, I doubted you
and me but Bob sounded so convincing. Anyway, I always experiment before I
post.

The main reason for my post is that I am happy to know that for 2007 we can
use a column/row for SUMPRODUCT.

Epinn

Unfortunately, I need to put the formula in
column CX (for a variety of reasons).
=COUNTIF(CX:CX,"B*")
=COUNTIF(CX:CX,"O*")

Then you'll have to use a more reasonable range and put the formula outside
of that range otherwise you'll get the circular reference once again.

Biff