Two possibilities
a) replace the A3 formula by ="C"&A1&":"&"C"&B1
and replace the COUNTA by =COUNTA(INDIRECT("'Sheet1'!"&A3))

or, better still
b) do away with the the A3 formula all together and use
=COUNT(INDIRECT("'Sheet1'"&"!C"&A1&":"&"C"&B1))

best wishes
--
Bernard Liengme
Microsoft Excel MVP
http://people.stfx.ca/bliengme


"Rob" wrote in message
...
I have a formula =COUNTA(INDIRECT(A3)) which returns the count of items in
a range which is defined in cell A3, the formula in A3 is below. Is there
a way of not having to include the sheet name (Sheet 1) in cell A3 and to
include in the COUNTA formula.

="'Sheet 1'"&"!C"&A1&":"&"C"&B1

Thanks, Rob