Count contiguous values
In column A, I have a long random list of two variables, "N/A" and the value 1. In column B I want to identify the number of contiguous occurrences of the value 1 before the next appearance of "N/A". I wonder if you could point me to the best way of achieving this please? Example below shows what I am after.Much appreciation for your excellent website,
DavidCol A Col B
N/A
N/A
1
1
1
1
1 5
N/A
1
1
1
1 4
N/A
N/A
1
1 2
N/A
N/A
N/A
1 1
Thanks, David.
The following formula looks for contiguous values, not only 1 and N/A.
Array formula in cell B3:
Read Rick Rothsteins's comment.
How to enter an array formula
- Select cell B3
- Paste above formula to formula bar
- Press and hold CTRL + SHIFT simultaneously
- Press Enter once
- Release all keys
Copy cell B3 and paste to cells below as far as needed.
If you want to learn more about array formulas join my Advanced excel course.
Download excel *.xlsx file
identify-the-number-of-contiguous-occurrences-of-a-value-david.xlsx
Weekly Blog EMAIL
Welcome! I am Oscar and here to help you out.Feel free to comment and ask Excel questions.
Make sure you subscribe to my newsletter so you don't miss new blog articles.
Related articles
Count unique distinct values that meet multiple criteria
This post demonstrates how to build an array formula that counts unique distinct values based on criteria. What's on this […]
Count Conditionally Formatted cells
This article explains how to count cells highlighted with Conditional Formatting (CF). The image above shows data in cell range […]
This article describes how to count unique distinct values. What are unique distinct values? They are all values but duplicates are […]
Count cells between specified values
This article demonstrates formulas that calculate the number of cells between two values, the first scenario involves two search values […]
Count unique distinct values in two columns
Formula in C12: =SUM(1/COUNTIF($B$3:$B$8, $B$3:$B$8))+SUM(IF(COUNTIF($B$3:$B$8, $D$3:$D$8)=0, 1/COUNTIF($D$3:$D$8, $D$3:$D$8), 0)) How to create an array formula Double click on cell C12 […]
Count unique distinct values in a filtered Excel defined Table
This article demonstrates a formula that counts unique distinct values filtered from an Excel defined Table. Debra Dalgleish described in […]
Count unique distinct values within same week, month or year
The array formula in cell E3 counts unique distinct items for all dates within the same week. Example, week 2 […]
How to count unique distinct values based on a date
The array formula in cell D3 calculates the number of unique distinct items based on the given date in column B. […]
Count overlapping days in multiple date ranges
The MEDIAN function lets you count overlapping dates between two date ranges. If you have more than two date ranges […]
Count unique distinct values based on a condition
The following article demonstrates how to construct a formula that counts unique distinct values based on a condition. The image […]
4 Responses to “Count contiguous values”
Leave a Reply
How to comment
How to add a formula to your comment
<code>Insert your formula here.</code>
Convert less than and larger than signs
Use html character entities instead of less than and larger than signs.
< becomes < and > becomes >
How to add VBA code to your comment
[vb 1="vbnet" language=","]
Put your VBA code here.
[/vb]
How to add a picture to your comment:
Upload picture to postimage.org or imgur
Paste image link to your comment.
First off, you show your formula starting in cell B3... you need to adjust it so that it starts in cell B2, otherwise you will not show a 1 in cell B2 if cell A2 differs from cell A3.
Second, here is a much simpler, still array-entered, formula, placed in cell B2 and copied down, that appears to produce the same output as your formula...
=IF(A3<>A4,ROW()-MAX(IF(A$1:A2<>A3,ROW(A$1:A2))),"")
Sorry, I posted the wrong formula, plus it looks like the comment processor ate my less than greater than symbol. Here is the correct array-entered formula, rearrange to eliminate the display problem...
=IF(A2=A3,"",ROW()-MAX(IF(A$1:A1<>A2,ROW(A$1:A1))))
[email protected]! I missed that the comment processor ate a second less than, greater than symbols in my formula. Here now is the correct [b]array-entered[/b] formula (rearranged so that there are no less than, greater than symbols at all)..
=IF(A2=A3,"",ROW()-MAX(IF(A$1:A1=A2,,ROW(A$1:A1))))
Rick Rothstein (MVP - Excel),
Your formulas work fine, thanks. So much better and smaller than mine.
I am sorry for wordpress eating your less/greater than signs, I try to edit your comments as soon as I can.