On Wed, 6 Jan 2010 12:46:06 -0800, ChrisM
wrote:

i must count similar pathways, but to a limited extent:
eg: column:
RIOASSUDroit à partir de 2010
RIOASSUDroit avant 2010
RIOASSUDroit avant 2010Montant minimum
RIOASSUDroit avant 2010Montant minimumRégime général
RIOASSUDroit avant 2010Montant minimumRégime indépendant

The structure of the text is always the same; i always compare the cell
below to the direct cell above.
The 'cut of' lies on the 4th ""
So: if the texte before the 4th "" is the same: true (0)
if the texte before the 4th "" is differente: false (1)
Objectif: to count the number of different publications, detected by pathway
indications.

in the example: row 2 is different from row 1 -- false = 1
row 3 is similar to row 2 -- true =0

Anybody who knows how to compare fragments of texte?

Thanks a lot,

ChrisM


If your data starts in A1, try:

B2:

=1-(LEFT(A2,FIND(CHAR(1),SUBSTITUTE(A2&"","",CHA R(1),4))-1)=
LEFT(A1,FIND(CHAR(1),SUBSTITUTE(A1&"","",CHAR (1),4))-1))

and fill down as far as required.
--ron