"Ron Rosenfeld" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 12:59:40 -0000, "Bob Phillips"

wrote:

However, I have JUST discovered that this problem can also be avoided
by
using
absolute references: ROW($1:$9).

As it turns out, Chip posted the way in which even the absolute reference
method can get messed up.

It might be better but I think which method would actually be "better"
depends
on what the OP wants. For example, if there are no valid values until
there is
a minimum of nine entries, then either Blank, 0, or some informative
message
(like "too few entries" or "only " & COUNT(A1:A12) & " entries") might be
"better".

I think that the one thing that can be taken from this conversation is that
generalisations are wrong in at least one case. Chip's point is valid, but
there are bound to be instances when inserting a row will want the range
covered to be increased, there are others when it will not.

So, as my old Tandem guru first said to me, it depends ... SO my better
depends on the OPs actual needs, as you rightly state, but so does yours.