i believe this will do want you need,

=SUMPRODUCT((A2:A500="string_a")*(n2:n500="string_ 2"))

--


Gary


"Prickle" <prick@somewherecom wrote in message
...
I'm struggling to get to grips with array formula and don't have much time
left and so I am asking for your help to programatically enter a fomula that
will count
the cells in Range(A2:A500) that contain String_A whose corresponding cell
in Range(N2:N500) contains String_B

My grateful thanks in advance for any help