Thanks Rick and Biff very much appreciated

=SUMPRODUCT((A1:A100="a")*(B1:K100="x"))

=SUMPRODUCT((A1:A6="B")*(B1:F6="X"))

I can get on again now :)

thanks


"news.virginmedia.com" wrote in message
...
Hi can anyone help with what seems a simple task that I can't fathom. I
want to count characters in rows if the row starts with a certain inital
in the first columb:

a x x x
b x x x x
c x x x x x
a x x x
b x
c x x x x x


So what is the total number of "x" in rows begining with "b"

I thought it would be simple but I cant work out can someone help at all,

thanks