With the start date you want to check agains in Z1 and the end date in Z2
(adjust as necessary):

=SUMPRODUCT(--(A2:A100=Z1),--(B2:B100<=Z2))

Does that help?
Paul

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"K" wrote in message
...
hey guys please help me out.

I have a flat file that has start date in column a, and end date in column
b
and data in columns c - h. I want to count the data in range c-h but only
if
the start and end dates in column a and b are within a certain date
parameter.

I have read differnt answers here using countif and also sumproduct but
I'm
not sure what the argument should be or the syntax.

could you please help out?