Counting specific values from maximum values of specified columns

Like this? Two alternative solutions here.

As usually I read every other word or line or so.
Generating all the combinations will require some VBA code. If no one else steps in I can have a look at it tomorrow.

Let's try with this then. I think it works but the formula is very bulky. Some other array formula guru here could probably make it more compact.

Sorry for late reply, lost this thread.

It's an array formula, it has to be entered with Ctrl+Shift+Delete. If you edit it ("touch it") without finishing with Ctrl+Shift+Delete then it doesn't work as an array formula anymore and it stops working. Array formulas can take arrays as arguments where normal formulas take single cells.
The ROW function is to get an array of numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. or in this case an array of ones as I divide them. It's just easier than typing in an array of ones manually.

Unfortunately I haven't been able to solve the formula properly to get the results that you want. Anyone else?

See if any 1 of these 3 possible solutions can work for you (Columns T,U or V, Rows 3 - 10; in the attachment)
I've highlighted the ranges being used and formulas so you can compare whats happening in the formula, with what is on the sheet
The Red highlighted cell (A34) just shows the formula I used to populate the table (info only, I copied the results, then pasted> special> values after I got a few different maxes in row 2)

Hope this helps

After further testing, Ignore the column U solution, it has some problems with differentiating "Pump 1" from "Pump 10"(or 11,12,13,14,15,16,17 for that matter(and I would assume 18or 19 if they existed))

Hi, Sorry for late response but I sort of forgot about this after finding a usable albeit unwieldy method. However I am still interested to see if anyone can come up with a more practical method as the 'solution' I found makes my spreadsheet almost 18MB. None of the solutions posted thus far seem to work.
If it helps the 'solution' I found was like this:

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Where ABCD and ABCE continued on for every possible combination (all 3213 of them)
X was a variation of

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Y was a variation of

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Where the 0 value was replaced with 0.125,0.25,0.5,1,2,4 or 8 as needed
The Y formulas and list of combinations were then transposed into another sheet to allow me to sort through them more easily the result was like this (The second half shows what the Y values for this sample should be)

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If the formula ranges seem off it's because the range I needed to use (Shown here as Columns A-F) are F-V on my spreadsheet and my data continues down so that formulas Y appear on rows 768-775

As I said it does give the information I need from it (and also has the added advantage of allowing me to determine which combination has the highest value from formula Y for a given number (i.e. does ABCD, ABCE, ABCF... produce more maximum values of 8)) but at 18MB it is unwieldy to say the least.

Well...of the offered solutions, what is not working for them?
If we don't know whats wrong with the offered solution, how can we fix it?

OK, try this one for a start point then, if it works the way you want, we can get it to be what you want in fairly short order

Hello,

You can try this sample file and see if this is what you are looking for.

Here's how to use it:
1. Place the name of the column with data you want to check on H1, I1, J1 and K1. You always have to fill in that order, from H1 to K1, but you don't need to fill all of them. If you need to check Column B, D and E for example, type "B" on H1, "D" on I1 and "E" on J1. You can put them in any order, but make sure the blank cell you leave is the last one (K1).

2. Place the number you want to check on L1. The results will be on H2.

In the attached file, I fill "D", "F" and "E" in H1, I1 and J1. K1 is blank. The number in L1 is 3. The result in H2 is 3.

Note: You said you want to check from two to four column, so always fill H1 and I1. If you want the 3rd column to check, fill J1, and if you want the 4th, fill K1.