=LEN(A1)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A1,"a",""))

or in VBA

Dim L As Long
Dim S As String
S = "abcda"
L = Len(S) - Len(Replace(S, "a", ""))
Debug.Print L


--
Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com

"ben" (remove this if mailing direct)
wrote in message
...
I seem to have misplaced a function.


What is hte method for counting how many times a specific
character occurs
inside a string without looping through it?
eg...

a = FUCNTIONCHARSEARCH("The quick brown fox ran over the
yard.","t")
a = 2


?




--
When you lose your mind, you free your life.
Ever Notice how we use '' for comments in our posts even if
they aren''t
expected to go into the code?