How do I count cells beginning with specific letter?

For example: I have a number of cells that contains names, and I have to
count the name that begins with letter "A", what do I do?

many thanks

one way:

=COUNTIF(A1:J100,"A*")

In article <[email protected]>,
jay <[email protected]> wrote:

> For example: I have a number of cells that contains names, and I have to
> count the name that begins with letter "A", what do I do?
>
> many thanks

try
=SUMPRODUCT((LEFT(J2:J5)="a")*1)

--
Don Guillett
SalesAid Software
[email protected]
"jay" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> For example: I have a number of cells that contains names, and I have to
> count the name that begins with letter "A", what do I do?
>
> many thanks