Supercharged Excel Formula: Counting Text Cells (Not Numbers) with a Special Syntax

🔢The countif function can be used with a special syntax to count text cells and exclude numbers and formulas.

❓The len and sumproduct functions can be used to count cells with text or numbers and exclude blank cells and empty strings.

💡The special syntax in the countif function is a simple way to count text cells without the need for complex formulas.

🤔The special syntax in the countif function is not well-known and might not be commonly used by Excel users.

🔑By understanding the special syntax, you can efficiently count text cells and exclude unwanted values in your Excel formulas.

How does the countif function with the special syntax work?

—The countif function with the special syntax allows you to count text cells and exclude numbers and formulas resulting in blank cells or empty strings. It uses the 'does not equal' sign combined with a quotation mark to indicate text cells.

Can I use the special syntax to count cells with specific text values?

—Yes, you can modify the special syntax in the countif function to count cells with specific text values. Simply replace the quotation mark with the desired text value.

Are there any limitations to using the countif function with the special syntax?

—The countif function with the special syntax is a simple and efficient way to count text cells. However, it does not provide advanced filtering or complex criteria options. For more advanced counting needs, other functions or formulas may be more suitable.

Can I use the len and sumproduct functions together to count cells with both text and numbers?

—Yes, by combining the len and sumproduct functions, you can count cells with both text and numbers. The len function checks the length of the text in each cell, and the sumproduct function converts the resulting true/false values into 1s and 0s for counting.

Are there any performance considerations when using the len and sumproduct functions?

—The len and sumproduct functions are generally efficient for counting cells. However, in large datasets, using these functions repeatedly or in complex formulas may impact calculation speed. Consider optimizing your formulas or using other techniques in such cases.

00:00The video introduces a special syntax in Excel formulas that allows you to count text cells.

00:55The special syntax can exclude numbers, formulas resulting in blank cells, and empty strings.

02:41The countif function with the special syntax can be used to count text cells.

04:29The len and sumproduct functions can also count cells with text or numbers and exclude blank cells and empty strings.

06:01The video concludes by encouraging viewers to comment if they know why the special syntax works.