How to write a formula that returns the number of distinct entries in a range?
First, let's clarify the question. We're hunting for a formula that, given the range that contains the values 100, 99, 98, 100, 98, 100, 98, would return 3. In other words, this range contains three different values, some of them repeated. This type of counting requires an array formula. The formula below, for example, counts the number of distinct entries in the range A1:D100. =SUM(1/COUNTIF(A1:D100, A1:D100)) When you enter this formula, you must press Ctrl-Shift-Enter. Pressing only Enter will give you the wrong result. Excel will place brackets around the formula to remind you that you've created an array formula. The preceding formula works fine in many cases, but it will return an error if the range contains any blank cells. The formula below (also an array formula, so input it with Ctrl-Shift-Enter) is more complex, but it will handle a range that contains a blank cell. =SUM(IF(COUNTIF(A1:D100,A1:D100)=0, "", 1/COUNTIF(A1:D100,A1:D100))) Regards, Upendra Singh +91-9910227325, +91-9310760597 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------- There are 10 kinds of people: Those who understand binary and those who don't. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------- --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some important links for excel users: 1. Excel and VBA Tutorials(Video and Text), Free add-ins downloads at http://www.excelitems.com 2. Excel tutorials at http://www.excel-macros.blogspot.com 3. Learn VBA Macros at http://www.vbamacros.blogspot.com 4. Excel Tips and Tricks at http://exceldailytip.blogspot.com To post to this group, send email to excel-macros@googlegroups.com If you find any spam message in the group, please send an email to: Ayush Jain @ jainayus...@gmail.com or Ashish Jain @ 26may.1...@gmail.com <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> HELP US GROW !! We reach over 5,000 subscribers worldwide and receive many nice notes about the learning and support from the group. Our goal is to have 10,000 subscribers by the end of 2009. Let friends and co-workers know they can subscribe to group at http://groups.google.com/group/excel-macros/subscribe -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
