Hi Excel News,

Try the formula:

=SUM(IF(FREQUENCY(IF(LEN(A1:A50)0,MATCH(A1:A50,A1 :A50,0),""),
IF(LEN(A1:A50)0,MATCH(A1:A50,A1:A50,0),""))0,1))

(Amend the range A1:A50 to suit).


For this and alternative formulae, see the
section entitled:

Counting Distinct Entries In A Range

on Chip Pearson's Duplicates page at:

http://www.cpearson.com/excel/Duplicates.aspx




---
Regards.
Norman


"EXCEL$B!!(BNEWS" wrote in message
...
hi,

there are a column made up from , say, a, b, c, a, c, d ,a,c,e

how to know the number of types,

thanks