B1: = A1
B2: =IF(ISERROR(MATCH(0,COUNTIF(B$1:B1,$A$1:$A$20&""), 0)),"",
INDEX(IF(ISBLANK($A$1:$A$20),"",$A$1:$A$20),MATCH( 0,COUNTIF(B$1:B1,$A$1:$A$2
0&""),0)))

as an array formula, commit with Ctrl-Shift-Enter, and copy down

C1: = COUNTIF(A:A,B1)

and copy down

--

HTH

RP
(remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)


"Ralph" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Is there a way to select a table and have excel produce a list ranking the
#
of times each item shows up in the list, i.e.

dog 5
cat 2
bird 1
???

Thanks