How to count x's in column but not blanks

I have a column Example column C10 thru C25. Some cells have x's in column. I need to count the x's . I want the count in C8 and if there are no x's, I want the result cell blank.

I have used the following formula, but I don't know how to get the cell to be blank when there are no x's in the column.

Formula I am using is:

Please Login or Register  to view this content.

Thanks for the help in advance.

The easy way would be to format the cell as 0;;

Thanks SHG

Question . . . in the upper left corner of the results field, cells with a zero or rather blank value has a the corner shaded black. I've seen this before, but don't know why it happens.

Your formatting suggestion works fine. Thanks

What do you see when you hover over it?

Nothing hovering over it.
When I click on the cell, a box pops up about 1/4" square with a diamond shape inside and an ! inside the diamond.

It's the Excel error checking. Depending on what error checking you have active (Tools - Options - Error checking) some cell content will be flagged with a warning, e.g. Number stored as text, Inconsistent formula in region. Click the drop-down arrow in the warning box and click "Ignore error" for an individual cell, or uncheck that warning type in the Excel Options.

cheers

Or unprotected formula ...

Thanks Shg & Teylin . . .
I had not turned on my protection yet, as I was modifying the project. With protection on, they disappear.

Teylin, I am sure that what you quoted is also correct, but since the cells will be locked, this is the route I am going to use. I am glad to know your input also.

Many Thanks To Both of You.

Matt, I don't think that's quite what shg meant. One of the warnings is for cells that are unlocked and contain formulas. Again, you can set which warnings are active in Tools - Options.

Anyway, the warning indicators disappear when you protect the sheet, and if that does it for you, great.