A pivot on a helper col would be one quick, effective way to get there

Assume your data as posted is in A2 down
In B2: =LEFT(A2,SEARCH(" ",A2)-1)
Copy down to extract the necessary postcodes. Put a label into B1, say:
PCode, then select col B, and create a pivot. In Layout, drag n drop PCode
into both the ROW and the DATA areas (set as COUNT). That's it. You'd get the
full summary count for all postcodes in the pivot sheet. In a matter of
seconds.

Success? Click YES below.
--
Max
Singapore
http://savefile.com/projects/236895
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xdemechanik
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"Michael" wrote:
I have a large mailing (23,000 pieces) and I have to know how many people I
am mailing to in a particular post code zone.

For example I have postcodes with a prefix ranging from 2 to 4 characters
followed by a further 3 characters (a standard UK postal format)

L1 6TY
L14 8GR
CH42 7TR

I need to count the number of occurrences of L1 (remembering that L14 also
may get counted which should not happen), Then I would need a count for all
L14 and CH42 and all the other Post codes.