Excel: Counting Cells with Text Only & Counting NonBlank Cells

 Last reviewed: November 2, 1994
Article ID: Q24275

SUMMARY

The Microsoft Excel COUNT function counts the number of cells that contain numbers in a selection, and the COUNTA function counts the number of nonblank cells in a selection.

To obtain a count of the number of cells that contain text entries, use the following formula 

   =COUNTA(ref)-COUNT(ref)
where "ref" is the reference to the cells being checked.

MORE INFORMATION

The COUNTA function is not available in Microsoft Excel versions 1.06 and earlier. To count the number of nonblank cells in these versions of Excel, use the following formula 

   =SUM(IF(LEN(ref)>0,1,0))
where "ref" is the reference to the cells being checked. The formula must be entered as an array formula by pressing COMMAND+ENTER once the formula has been typed.

To obtain a count of the number of cells that contain text entries in Microsoft Excel versions 1.06 and earlier, use the following formula 

   =SUM(IF(LEN(ref)>0,1,0))-COUNT(ref)
where "ref" is the reference to the cells being checked. The formula must be entered as an array formula by pressing COMMAND+ENTER once the formula has been typed.

KBCategory: kbother
KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 1.00 1.03 1.04 1.06 1.50 2.20 3.00

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: November 2, 1994
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.