I need to calculate and return a number in a cell based on the value in a
given cloumn. Here is what I need.

I have several packages waiting for return labels to be e-mailed. In column
L, if the package had a return label attached, the tracking number is
entered in the corrisponding cell (row X column L).

If the package did not have a return label attached "Waiting For Return
Label" is entered in (row X column L). I tried to figure out a conditional
formula that would add "1" to a cell for each value of "Waiting For Return
Label" but was unsuccessful.

Then I looked at VLOOKUP which might do what I need but I know next to
nothing about how to format VLOOKUP to make it work. Would someone who knows
Excel far better than me lend a hand.

Thanx

If I understand your question, in column L enter , enter
=IF(x="Waiting For Return Label",1,x) and replace the "x"s with
references to the range where the tracking number or text reside.

Cliff Edwards

Not quite.

The cell to get the value of adding the number of cells in column L, is M2.
So for example, if cell L39 has the value Waiting For Return Label, M2 would
equal 1, if L45 also has the value Waiting For Return Label, M2 would equal
2 and so on.


"ward376" wrote in message
...
If I understand your question, in column L enter , enter
=IF(x="Waiting For Return Label",1,x) and replace the "x"s with
references to the range where the tracking number or text reside.

Cliff Edwards

=COUNTIF(L:L,"Waiting for Return Label")

Using the entire column for the range reference, as in the example,
may degrade performance.

Cliff Edwards

Thanks it works as expected.

"ward376" wrote in message
...
=COUNTIF(L:L,"Waiting for Return Label")

Using the entire column for the range reference, as in the example,
may degrade performance.

Cliff Edwards