counting similar items in a column

Hi,

I have a spreadsheet with a column of alphanumeric codes. I would like to
automatically count how many times the codes appear in the column. Currently
I'm copying the data into another sheet, sorting it, printing it out and
counting them by hand to build a monthly report. I know there has to be an
easier way.

Your help is appreciated.
bj

Check out COUNTIF() in XL Help.

In article <[email protected]>,
"bj" <[email protected]> wrote:

> I have a spreadsheet with a column of alphanumeric codes. I would like to
> automatically count how many times the codes appear in the column. Currently
> I'm copying the data into another sheet, sorting it, printing it out and
> counting them by hand to build a monthly report. I know there has to be an
> easier way.
>
> Your help is appreciated.

One approach might be to enter a unique list of the codes in say Column A.

Then enter this formula in Column B and copy down as needed:
=COUNTIF($A$1:$A$100,A1)

Another approach, with your *original* column of data in Column A, might be
to enter this formula in an adjoining column and copy down as needed.
=COUNTIF($A$1:A1,A1)
--
HTH,

RD
==============================================
Please keep all correspondence within the Group, so all may benefit!
==============================================




"bj" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
>
> I have a spreadsheet with a column of alphanumeric codes. I would like to
> automatically count how many times the codes appear in the column.
Currently
> I'm copying the data into another sheet, sorting it, printing it out and
> counting them by hand to build a monthly report. I know there has to be
an
> easier way.
>
> Your help is appreciated.
> bj

It sounds like you might be looking for the CountIf function. This function
has you specify the range of cells in which the criterion might exist, then
the criteria that you are search for (example - look for code A250, the city
of Seattle, or a specific number such as 777).

Here's how this would work. To find the number of times the code 777 exists
in the range D1:D25, in a cell, type =COUNTIF(D1:D25,777).

If this isn't what you are looking for, let us know.

Donna Payne
www.payneconsulting.com

from another bj
look at first
the advanced filter
and second
the countif function

Select the data you wish to analyze (column A?)
<data><filters><Advanced filter>
[unique data] and select a cell where you have no data under it. (C1)
hit enter

you should now have a sorted list of all of the unique data from column A
in Cell D1 enter
=countif($A:$1:$A:$1000,C1)
and copy down to the bottom of the column C data.



"bj" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I have a spreadsheet with a column of alphanumeric codes. I would like to
> automatically count how many times the codes appear in the column. Currently
> I'm copying the data into another sheet, sorting it, printing it out and
> counting them by hand to build a monthly report. I know there has to be an
> easier way.
>
> Your help is appreciated.
> bj

You mean you're not you?<bg>
--
Regards,

RD
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please keep all correspondence within the Group, so all may benefit!
-------------------------------------------------------------------

"bj" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> from another bj
> look at first
> the advanced filter
> and second
> the countif function
>
> Select the data you wish to analyze (column A?)
> <data><filters><Advanced filter>
> [unique data] and select a cell where you have no data under it. (C1)
> hit enter
>
> you should now have a sorted list of all of the unique data from column A
> in Cell D1 enter
> =countif($A:$1:$A:$1000,C1)
> and copy down to the bottom of the column C data.
>
>
>
> "bj" wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have a spreadsheet with a column of alphanumeric codes. I would like
to
> > automatically count how many times the codes appear in the column.
Currently
> > I'm copying the data into another sheet, sorting it, printing it out and
> > counting them by hand to build a monthly report. I know there has to be
an
> > easier way.
> >
> > Your help is appreciated.
> > bj