Counting random columns for values

[Cmorgan]

Morning,

I have two problems which I can't seem to fathom. Firstly, I'm trying to:

-count the number of times D is in the following cells Q,T,W,Z,AC,AF,AI,AL,AO,AR,AU,AX,BA,BD,BG,BJ

I have tried all sorts of countif and countifs but it keep saying I am missing an argument.

Secondly, using the same formula I need to count the number of D*,D,M and P. The problem is when I try to use D* it counts the Ds as well.

Many thanks for any help you can give.

Regards

[XOR LX]

Hi,

I assume you mean cells:

Q1, T1, W1, Z1, AC1, AF1, AI1, AL1, AO1, AR1, AU1, AX1, BA1, BD1, BG1, BJ1

or some other row number?

COUNTIF and other functions are not so good with non-contiguous range references (i.e. various disconnected cells/ranges). Would there be any harm in taking the whole range, i.e. Q1:BJ1 and counting the number of Ds within that?

That way, your formula would be:

=COUNTIF(Q1:BJ1,"D")

Regards

[Cmorgan]

Thanks, the problem is they can't be consecutive columns due to another programme I need to import into later on.

[XOR LX]

No, I know that the columns can't be consecutive, but is there any reason that the function counting these cells cannot count the cells from columns in between those that you wish to count?

Or are there Ds in these unwanted, in-between columns which would potentially affect that count?

Regards

[Cmorgan]

Yes, unfortunately the inbetween cells also have the same value sets. In this case one column is AS results, and thenext column is A2 exam results, both have the same grades.

[Cmorgan]

Sorted via doing an additional lookup sheet