Counting Cells that contain text

Mykul69

Good Afternoon,

I'm trying to add columns that only contain text.  I have a column where the users insert "issues" that they have with that particular line item.  At the bottom of the sheet, I need to have a running total of how many issues are listed (and then make a graph) so I am trying to make a formula counting blank vs. non-blank cells.  This is what I have so far but it's coming back #UNPARSEABLE

=countif([open issues]10:[open issues]190,"*")

=countif([open issues]10:[open issues]190,"cell isn't blank")

 

I've also used the same formulas above with "=counta"

 

Any assistance/guidance is greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Mike Wilday

Try some combination of these to get your tallies. 

• Count all cells in a range that contain text. Note: This won't count cells that have only numbers. You want to set the column name to the column that does and doesn't have text. 
  
  
  
  =COUNTIF([Open Issues]10:[Open Issues]190, ISTEXT(@cell))
  
   
• Count all cells in a range: You want to count a column that has something in every row. It won't count blank cells. 
  
  
  
  =Count([Your Range]10:[Your Range]190) 

If you subtract the total count from the Is text count you should get the count of items without text in the column... 

https://help.smartsheet.com/function/count

 

Mike Wilday

Try substituting the column names in the brackets with your own columns to get the count of non-blank cells. 

=COUNTIF([Your Column with blanks]10:[Your Column With Blanks]190, ISTEXT(@cell))-Count([Your Column without blanks]10:[Your Column without Blanks]190) 

• https://help.smartsheet.com/function/count
• https://help.smartsheet.com/function/istext
• https://help.smartsheet.com/function/countif

Mykul69

The first one worked, greatly appreciated!

Mike Wilday

You're welcome. Glad I could help out! 

Blake Mears

Can't figure out why this formula isn't working. Does it have to do with the fact I'm looking for a number vs. text? Any help would be appreciated.

Andrée Starå

Hi @Blake Mears

I hope you're well and safe!

Try something like this.

=COUNTIF(author:author, CONTAINS(1385,@cell)

Did that work/help?

I hope that helps!

Be safe, and have a fantastic week!

Best,

Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

✅Did my post(s) help or answer your question or solve your problem? Please support the Community by marking it Insightful/Vote Up, Awesome, or/and as the accepted answer. It will make it easier for others to find a solution or help to answer!

Blake Mears

Andree, Unfortunately, I'm still getting a zero for the result.

Andrée Starå

@Blake Mears

Strange!

I'd be happy to take a quick look.

Can you maybe share the sheet(s)/copies of the sheet(s)? (Delete/replace any confidential/sensitive information before sharing) That would make it easier to help. (share too, andree@workbold.com)

Blake Mears

Thanks, Andree. I shared the sheet with you just now.

Andrée Starå

@Blake Mears

You're more than welcome!

Glad we got it working!

✅Remember! Did my post(s) help or answer your question or solve your problem? Please support the Community by marking it Insightful/Vote Up/Awesome or/and as the accepted answer. It will make it easier for others to find a solution or help to answer!