How can I do this in Numbers? Take a count of "names"

Question

Hi All,
I'm totally new to Numbers, I'm hoping the experts here can help me do this. I know that with "functions" I can use: sum, count, etc. When I use these to get the sum or the count it works fine. But what I want to do is take a count of the "names" that are listed in the cells. Like if under C2/3, C4/5 and E2/3 and E4/5 I have peoples names in there, Can I make numbers "count" the names and insert a value in H2-5?
Here is a screen shot of what I'm talking about. http://www.filenanny.com/files/47aad926b3ca211397/Picture%203.png
As you can see, I want to "count" Ted, Nancy and Julie" and have numbers input "3" in H2/3, and so forth. Is this possible?
Thanks,
Carlton
Message was edited by: maccattack

Answer 1

mac,
The answer to your question for what you show is:
=COUNTA(C2:C3)+COUNTA(E2:E3)
However, it appears that you are counting family members and if this is the case, how are you handling families greater than 4? It's not clear whether you are merging cells to get the big ones or splitting big cells to get the small ones. But a flexible number or rows could be added under the family grouping if you merged small cells into big ones. This avoids being locked into 2, 4, or 8 etc. divisions. In this case you would need to increase the ranges in the above formula.
The other possibility is more "Kids" columns could be added. Your formula, of course, would have to be adjusted by adding more +COUNTA(.. : ..) segments to you formula.
Since you cannot drag the first formula down column H, you could repeatedly copy and paste it. Not ideal, but workable unless you have to do it hundreds of times.
pw