=sumproduct(--(a1:a10="texta"),--(b1:b10="textb"),--(c1:c10="text c"))

Adjust the ranges to match--but you can't use whole columns (except in xl2007).

=sumproduct() likes to work with numbers. The -- stuff changes trues and falses
to 1's and 0's.

Bob Phillips explains =sumproduct() in much more detail he
http://www.xldynamic.com/source/xld.SUMPRODUCT.html

And J.E. McGimpsey has some notes at:
http://mcgimpsey.com/excel/formulae/doubleneg.html


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And if you're using xl2007, take a look at excel's help for =countifs()



Owen wrote:

I have a spreadsheet with 3 columns - I want to know the number of times col
A = texta, and col b = textb and col c = text c. how do I do this in excel?

--

Dave Peterson