I think i have done it! but had to use hidden columns rather than do the whole thing in one go.
see attachement
Paul

A slightly more efficient formula would be:

=IF(COUNTIF($AX$4:$AX$6,T4)0,T$2,0)

in cell AF4 and copied down and to the right.

In order for it to work, cells AX4 to AX6 contain the letter P, M & D (one in each). These could be any cells anywhere... I just picked those because they were nearby and empty.

Nice one that works really well cheers, I must be honest i dont totally understand it all, but works and that all that counts.

I can follow it up to this bit, 0,T$2,0)
I get the T$2 bit but not sure why 0 is needed either side.

Thanks again for all you help

=IF(COUNTIF($AX$4:$AX$6,T4)0,T$2,0)
=IF(Condition,ValueIfTrue,ValueIfFalse)

The first 0 is part of the IF statement condition. The second is the 'value if false'.

So in plain English the formula says, "if a count of the number of times the value in T4 appears in AX4, AX5 and AX6 is greater than zero, show the value in T2, otherwise show zero."

Does that explain it for you?