probably not a suitable title...

ok my problem should be simple to explain.

i have in column B (from cells B2 to B20) 8 asterisks randomly placed(*)

what i want to do is in column A (A2 to A20), the first time that the star appears to write a '1' in the relative cell next to it, the second time it appears in the list a '2' the third time a '3' and so on... sounds simple and i thought it was. but im stumped. and dont know what to search for on here sorry :(

thanks for any help

One way. Put this formula in A2 and drag it through A20:
=IF(B2="*",COUNTIF($B$2:B2,"*"),"")

Tyro

"bouncebackability" wrote in
message ...

probably not a suitable title...

ok my problem should be simple to explain.

i have in column B (from cells B2 to B20) 8 asterisks randomly
placed(*)

what i want to do is in column A (A2 to A20), the first time that the
star appears to write a '1' in the relative cell next to it, the second
time it appears in the list a '2' the third time a '3' and so on...
sounds simple and i thought it was. but im stumped. and dont know what
to search for on here sorry :(

thanks for any help




--
bouncebackability

On Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:32:39 +0000, bouncebackability
wrote:


probably not a suitable title...

ok my problem should be simple to explain.

i have in column B (from cells B2 to B20) 8 asterisks randomly
placed(*)

what i want to do is in column A (A2 to A20), the first time that the
star appears to write a '1' in the relative cell next to it, the second
time it appears in the list a '2' the third time a '3' and so on...
sounds simple and i thought it was. but im stumped. and dont know what
to search for on here sorry :(

thanks for any help


This assumes that the cell in column B will be either empty (blank), contain a
null string, or contain an asterisk.

A1: =IF(B1="","",COUNTIF($B$1:B1,"~*"))

Fill down to A20
--ron

On Jan 22, 7:32 pm, bouncebackability <bouncebackability.
wrote:
probably not a suitable title...

ok my problem should be simple to explain.

i have in column B (from cells B2 to B20) 8 asterisks randomly
placed(*)

what i want to do is in column A (A2 to A20), the first time that the
star appears to write a '1' in the relative cell next to it, the second
time it appears in the list a '2' the third time a '3' and so on...
sounds simple and i thought it was. but im stumped. and dont know what
to search for on here sorry :(

thanks for any help

--
bouncebackability

Put this formula in A2:
=IF(B2="*";COUNTIF(B$2:B2;"*");"")

Per Erik

Enter this formula in A2 and copy down as needed:

=IF(B2="*",COUNTIF(B$2:B2,"~*"),"")

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"bouncebackability" wrote in
message ...

probably not a suitable title...

ok my problem should be simple to explain.

i have in column B (from cells B2 to B20) 8 asterisks randomly
placed(*)

what i want to do is in column A (A2 to A20), the first time that the
star appears to write a '1' in the relative cell next to it, the second
time it appears in the list a '2' the third time a '3' and so on...
sounds simple and i thought it was. but im stumped. and dont know what
to search for on here sorry :(

thanks for any help




--
bouncebackability

=IF(B2="*",COUNTIF($B$2:B2,"*"),"")

If there are any text entries in the range that formula will count them.

Try it with this data:

*
*
x
*

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Tyro" wrote in message
...
One way. Put this formula in A2 and drag it through A20:
=IF(B2="*",COUNTIF($B$2:B2,"*"),"")

Tyro

"bouncebackability" wrote in
message ...

probably not a suitable title...

ok my problem should be simple to explain.

i have in column B (from cells B2 to B20) 8 asterisks randomly
placed(*)

what i want to do is in column A (A2 to A20), the first time that the
star appears to write a '1' in the relative cell next to it, the second
time it appears in the list a '2' the third time a '3' and so on...
sounds simple and i thought it was. but im stumped. and dont know what
to search for on here sorry :(

thanks for any help




--
bouncebackability

Forgot the ~

"T. Valko" wrote in message
...
=IF(B2="*",COUNTIF($B$2:B2,"*"),"")

If there are any text entries in the range that formula will count them.

Try it with this data:

*
*
x
*

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Tyro" wrote in message
...
One way. Put this formula in A2 and drag it through A20:
=IF(B2="*",COUNTIF($B$2:B2,"*"),"")

Tyro

"bouncebackability" wrote in
message ...

probably not a suitable title...

ok my problem should be simple to explain.

i have in column B (from cells B2 to B20) 8 asterisks randomly
placed(*)

what i want to do is in column A (A2 to A20), the first time that the
star appears to write a '1' in the relative cell next to it, the second
time it appears in the list a '2' the third time a '3' and so on...
sounds simple and i thought it was. but im stumped. and dont know what
to search for on here sorry :(

thanks for any help




--
bouncebackability

"Per Erik Midtrød" wrote in message
...
On Jan 22, 7:32 pm, bouncebackability <bouncebackability.
wrote:
probably not a suitable title...

ok my problem should be simple to explain.

i have in column B (from cells B2 to B20) 8 asterisks randomly
placed(*)

what i want to do is in column A (A2 to A20), the first time that the
star appears to write a '1' in the relative cell next to it, the second
time it appears in the list a '2' the third time a '3' and so on...
sounds simple and i thought it was. but im stumped. and dont know what
to search for on here sorry :(

thanks for any help

--
bouncebackability

Put this formula in A2:
=IF(B2="*";COUNTIF(B$2:B2;"*");"")

Per Erik

See my reply to Tyro.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP