Subtotal count not working

[Guest]

I have two spreadsheets with different data which I am subtotaling the same
way; a count of the number of entries in a certain column at each change in
the entry in the code column. In both cases, the formula is the same -
subtotal(3,cell:cell). However, in one spreadsheet when I have a code that
has no entries in the counted column, I get a count of 0 and the other
spreadsheet gives me a count of 1. There is nothing in the column being
counted in either case and I can't figure out why they are different. Does
anyone have any suggestions of what I might be doing wrong?
Thanks!!

 

[Guest]

I have one more piece of info I have found. When I click on the function
button to look at how the cell is calculating for these cells, the
calculation is different. The cell that is counting correctly (count = 0)
shows "0" in the cell it is counting. The one that is counting incorrectly
(count = 1) shows "" in the cell it is counting. When you click in the cells
being counted, they both have nothing in them and are formatted the same
(number w/no decimal places).

 

[Dave Peterson]

Oh, I bet there is something in that worksheet that gives you a 1.

Maybe it's as simple as a space character.

Maybe it's a formula that returns ""

(or used to be a formula that returned "" and was converted to values.)

I'd show all the data.
Select the first cell at the top of the column and do:
End|down arrow.

If excel stops on a cell (not in row 65536), hit the delete key to clear the
contents.

 

[Guest]

Thanks, that did the trick.

I have one more piece of info I have found. When I click on the function
button to look at how the cell is calculating for these cells, the
calculation is different. The cell that is counting correctly (count = 0)
shows "0" in the cell it is counting. The one that is counting incorrectly
(count = 1) shows "" in the cell it is counting. When you click in the cells
being counted, they both have nothing in them and are formatted the same
(number w/no decimal places).