How to combine multiple "OR" conditions.

Where are you using the OR function?

One way:

OR(A1={"R","XR","HR","H/R"})

if you have your conditions set up as a list, this MAY be possible using array formula or sumproduct, but would need to see how you got things set up to even try to offer a solution (please upload a sample workbook, NOT a screenshot)

Again, PLEASE upload a/the sample workbook/s

Beautiful looking workbook, unfortunately, I can not find any data to work with, nor expected solutions to compare against...I have no idea what you have or expect to see..

hi dzugan, i'm just going to assume your formula is right & you just want to shorten it? otherwise, you would have to tell us what you are trying to do. what is supposed to stop the validation by giving some scenarios. so try this for your validation:
=NOT(AND(OR(D4={"R","XR","RX","X/R","R/X","HR","RH","H/R","R/H"}),$AF4>8))

and the COUNTIF:
=SUM(COUNTIF(D4:AE4,{"R","HR","RH","H/R","R/H","XR","RX","X/R","R/X"}))

Those brackets { } denote an array constant. You can't use array constants in formulas that define a data validation rule in Excel versions up to at least Excel 2007. I don't have Excel 2010 installed (yet) so I don't know if it'll work in that version.

What you could do is enter the text values in a range of cells and then refer to that range like this:

=NOT(AND(OR(D4=$E$4:$E$12),$AF4>8))

Where E4:E12 = list of text values:

R
XR
RX
X/R
R/X
HR
RH
H/R
R/H

Note that if you test that formula in a cell on the worksheet it must be entered as an array formula.

Array formulas need to be entered using the key
combination of CTRL,SHIFT,ENTER (not just ENTER).
Hold down both the CTRL key and the SHIFT key
then hit ENTER.

When used as a rule in data validation it will automatically be evaluated as an array formula and no special key entry is needed.

Excel versions up to Excel 2007 will not allow array constants to be used in data validation (and other places).

I have Excel 2010 but it's not installed just yet. I don't know if the array constant rule applies to Excel 2010 and later. Do you know?

Ok, thanks for the confirmation.

Good deal. Thanks for the feedback!