A Pivot Table is probably the easiest approach....
Just make sure you have column headings
(I'll assume: Date,Category,Name)

From the Excel Main Menu....
<Data<Pivot Table
Use: Excel
Select your data
Click the [Layout] button

ROW:
Drag the Date field here
Drag the Category field here and put it under the Date field

DATA: Drag the Name field here
If it doesn't list as Count of Name...dbl-click it and set it to Count
Click [OK]
Select where you want the Pivot Table...and you're done!

That will list each Date/Category combination used and the Count of Names.

To refresh the Pivot Table, just right click it and select Refresh Data

Post back with any questions.

Is that something you can work with?
***********
Regards,
Ron

XL2002, WinXP


"stratis" wrote:

I have a long 16000 lines sheeet that contains the checking per day per
Section.
ie
Jan 1, Sales, Mr X
Jan 1, Sales, Mr Y
Jan 1, Marketing, Mr Z
Jan 2, Sales, Mr X
Jan 2, Marketing, Mr Z

I want to add the functiion like COunt, or dcount
Jan 1, Sales 2, people
Jan1, Marketing, 1 person
Jan 2, Sales, 1 Person
etc...