Purpose
Return value
Syntax
=DCOUNTA(database,[field],criteria)- database - Database range including headers.
- field - [optional] Field name or index to count.
- criteria - Criteria range including headers.
How to use
The Excel DCOUNTA function counts matching records in a database using a specified field and criteria. Unlike DCOUNT, which counts only numeric values, DCOUNTA counts both numeric and text values. Empty cells are ignored. Use DCOUNT to count only numeric values.
The database argument is a range of cells that includes field headers, field is the name or index of the field to count, and criteria is a range of cells with headers matching those in database.
Using the example above, you can count records where the color is "red" and price is > 10 with these formulas:
=DCOUNTA(B7:E14,"Color",B4:E5) // field by name
=DCOUNTA(B7:E14,1,B4:E5) // field by index
=DCOUNTA(B7:E14,,B4:E5) // field omitted
Caution: If the value in a field is empty it will not be counted, even when criteria match.
Note: The DCOUNTA function will count numbers or text in a given field, whereas DCOUNT only counts numeric values.
Criteria options
The criteria can include a variety of expressions. The table below shows some examples:
| Criteria | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Red | Match "red" or "RED" |
| Re* | Begins with "re" |
| 10 | Equal to 10 |
| >10 | Greater than 10 |
| <> | Not blank |
| <>100 | Not 100 |
| >12/19/2017 | Greater than Dec 19, 2017 |
The criteria range for DCOUNT can include more than one row below the headers. When criteria includes more than one row, each row is joined with OR logic, and the expressions in a given criteria row are joined with AND logic.
Notes
- DCOUNTA counts numbers and text in a given field when criteria match.
- DCOUNTA supports wildcards in criteria, the support is not as good as in more modern functions like COUNTIFS.
- Criteria can include more than one row (as explained above),
- The field argument can be supplied as a name in double quotes ("") or as a number representing field index.
- The database and criteria ranges must include matching headers.
Related functions
DCOUNT Function
The Excel DCOUNT function counts matching records in a database using criteria and an optional field. When a field is provided DCOUNT will only count numeric values in the field. Use DCOUNTA to count numbers or text values in a given field.
DMAX Function
The Excel DMAX function returns the maximum value in a field, from a set of records that match criteria. Use the DMIN function to get the minimum value.
DMIN Function
The Excel DMIN function returns the minimum value in a field, from a set of records that match criteria. Use the MAX function to get the maximum value.
DSUM Function
The Excel DSUM function returns the sum of values from a set of records that match criteria. The values to sum are extracted from a given field in the database.
DPRODUCT Function
The Excel DPRODUCT function returns the product of values from a set of records that match criteria. The values to multiply are extracted from a given field in the database, specified as an argument.
