COUNT function and errors within it - Need some expert knowledge

I have 2 spreadsheets - "A" and "B".
"A" is the master spreadsheet and all cells are locked.
Information displayed on "A" is enterd via "B"
"A" has 5 columns with formulas in and 10 data columns that display
information entered from "B".
1 of the 5 formula columns in "A" has a "COUNT" formula that counts the 10
data columns when a value is recorded from when the user enteres data from
"B".
The 10 data columns on "A" have had:
"=spreadsheetA!A1", "=spreadsheetB!B1", "=spreadsheetC!C1",etc
and also
"=if(spreadsheetA!A1, spreadsheetA!A1, 0) etc, to record what is being
entered on "B".
The problem is,
The "COUNT" formula on "A" is registering a value even though no data is
being entered on "B". It seems to think that whatever functions or formulas
are used in the 10 data cells on "A" to record the information from "B" is a
value in itself and is displaying "10". I'm trying to get it only to register
an answer if something is entered, and if nothing is entered to discount it
in the "COUNT".

I hope this makes a bit of sense, and i will be extremely grateful if
anybody can shed a bit of light on this matter

Thanks

The COUNT() counts all cells containing a numeric value and that includes those containng a zero.

You have to have your formulae on Sheet A result in a blank ("") if there is no data in the corresponding cells on Sheet B.

In Sheet A, cell A1 type: =IF(SheetB!A1="","",SheetB!A1)

Copy the formula throughout your range on Sheet A

have you tried using the COUNTA function?

Just a thought, Count the values on B?

--

HTH

RP
(remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)


"stu eade" <stu [email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have 2 spreadsheets - "A" and "B".
> "A" is the master spreadsheet and all cells are locked.
> Information displayed on "A" is enterd via "B"
> "A" has 5 columns with formulas in and 10 data columns that display
> information entered from "B".
> 1 of the 5 formula columns in "A" has a "COUNT" formula that counts the 10
> data columns when a value is recorded from when the user enteres data from
> "B".
> The 10 data columns on "A" have had:
> "=spreadsheetA!A1", "=spreadsheetB!B1", "=spreadsheetC!C1",etc
> and also
> "=if(spreadsheetA!A1, spreadsheetA!A1, 0) etc, to record what is being
> entered on "B".
> The problem is,
> The "COUNT" formula on "A" is registering a value even though no data is
> being entered on "B". It seems to think that whatever functions or
formulas
> are used in the 10 data cells on "A" to record the information from "B" is
a
> value in itself and is displaying "10". I'm trying to get it only to
register
> an answer if something is entered, and if nothing is entered to discount
it
> in the "COUNT".
>
> I hope this makes a bit of sense, and i will be extremely grateful if
> anybody can shed a bit of light on this matter
>
> Thanks

I'm not sure if this will help, but maybe have the count function in "A"
count the values in Spreadsheet "B" where they are entered initially.
Depending on your data, this might work.

You might want to alse give COUNTA a try.

"stu eade" wrote:

> I have 2 spreadsheets - "A" and "B".
> "A" is the master spreadsheet and all cells are locked.
> Information displayed on "A" is enterd via "B"
> "A" has 5 columns with formulas in and 10 data columns that display
> information entered from "B".
> 1 of the 5 formula columns in "A" has a "COUNT" formula that counts the 10
> data columns when a value is recorded from when the user enteres data from
> "B".
> The 10 data columns on "A" have had:
> "=spreadsheetA!A1", "=spreadsheetB!B1", "=spreadsheetC!C1",etc
> and also
> "=if(spreadsheetA!A1, spreadsheetA!A1, 0) etc, to record what is being
> entered on "B".
> The problem is,
> The "COUNT" formula on "A" is registering a value even though no data is
> being entered on "B". It seems to think that whatever functions or formulas
> are used in the 10 data cells on "A" to record the information from "B" is a
> value in itself and is displaying "10". I'm trying to get it only to register
> an answer if something is entered, and if nothing is entered to discount it
> in the "COUNT".
>
> I hope this makes a bit of sense, and i will be extremely grateful if
> anybody can shed a bit of light on this matter
>
> Thanks