I think you've missed something, Geoff.

One argument for your SUM function is
COUNTIF(D36:D606,"=L5") + COUNTIF( D36:D606,"=L6") + COUNTIF( D36:D606,
"=L7") + COUNTIF(H36:H606, "=hC")
but it isn't clear what you want to SUM to that.
Or did you intend your formula not to be
=SUM(COUNTIF(D36:D606,"=L5") + COUNTIF( D36:D606,"=L6") + COUNTIF( D36:D606,
"=L7") + COUNTIF(H36:H606, "=hC"))
but just
=COUNTIF(D36:D606,"=L5") + COUNTIF( D36:D606,"=L6") + COUNTIF( D36:D606,
"=L7") + COUNTIF(H36:H606, "=hC") ?

If you don't understand what the SUM function does, look it up in Excel
help.

And are you sure that the OP wanted for look for the text string L5 (or L6,
or L7)? I had assumed that she was looking in column D for a value equal to
the value in cell L5 or L6 or L7.
I agree with you that it wasn't clear what the OP was trying to do. I made
a guess in my reply to the thread, but we are all guessing.
--
David Biddulph


"Geoff_L" wrote in message
...
Not very clear what you are trying to do. Are you simply adding up the
total number of L5, L6, L7 and hC instances in the 2 columns (as your
formula
would suggest)? Or is there more to it than that? To achieve the above
then
the formula should read:

=SUM(COUNTIF(D36:D606,"=L5") + COUNTIF( D36:D606,"=L6") + COUNTIF(
D36:D606,
"=L7") + COUNTIF(H36:H606, "=hC"))

Please explain more if this is not what you are trying to do.

If this was helpful, click Yes.

"Marilyn" wrote:

=SUM(COUNTIF(D36:D606,"$L5$L6$L7"))+(COUNTIF(H36:H 606,"hC"))
Trying to count the number of L5,L6,L7 in column range D36:D606, for a
total
count. Then I want that total number of L5,L6,L7 (one sum)to display the
total hC count shown in column H36:H606. I can't seem to get the total
number of hC for L5,L6,L7.