Exceptions to =Countblank function

[JackBall]

Hello..I am creating a worksheet for the work schedule for X number of employees. I have the worksheet arranged so that if someone has a day off a value of "o" is inserted into a calender type schedule. I then use a =countblank function to add up the blank spaces (which indicate someone is working) and can then see how many people are working a particular day.

The problem I am having is that some time an employee will have a training day which instead of being a blank space will eb marked as (TRN). This however causes errors with my =countblank function, and the employees are then counted as being off when they are in fact training.

Basically I want to use a =countblank function then put an exception modifier at the end so that days marked "trn" or other designations are counted by the function. I am not too familiar with doing these types of functions. I've thought of using a =countif function to include in the same path...any way just looking for the best way to do this.

So far what I've come up with is:
=countblank(cell:cell)+Countif(cell:cell,"trn")+Countif(however many variables i have)
Is this the best way to do this?

Thanks in advance

[swatsp0p]

That is how I would do it based on your model.

[cvolkert]

If I understand you correctly, you really are trying to include everything except those with a 'o'. Couldn't you just use a countif to find the number of 'o' and then subtract this from the total?

[Gerry-W]

Use the countif formula

=countif(range,"put less than and greater than signs here"&"o")

This will tell you how many cells do not contain a "o". ('<' '>')


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Gerry-W