I'd try:

=IF((COUNTIF(indirect("'" & a1 & "'!$A$1:$A$1318"),"*"&B2&"*"&C2&"*")0),
"maybe", "no")

A1 contains the name of a worksheet in this workbook, right?

FYI: =indirect() won't work with external workbooks if that external workbook
is closed.

NHRunner wrote:

I will using the following formula in hundreds of rows in about 30 columns
starting at column D
Row 1 in column D will have the names of 30 other sheets.

If D1 contained the string "groton" how would I change the following formula
to use the string in row one.

=IF((COUNTIF(groton!$A$1:$A$1318,"*"&B2&"*"&C2&"*" )0),"maybe", "no")

Thanks
Steve

--

Dave Peterson