count number of same characters in a string

[anzer]

Hello,

I'm quiting smoking after 10 years! (I'm 25 and it's been 5 days in a row now!! )
and to help me I created an excel file with a calendar
When I smoke I put F below the date and X if I don't smoke. I want a formulas that count the number of X in a row example:

F F X F F X F X X X X X ( each letter are in a different cell and I want the result to be 5 not 7 )

Any idea ?!

Thank you

 

[anzer]

I will leave a note at the end of the year and answer this thread to keep you posted Thank you a million time once again!

 

[kangi24]

Eric's Method showed me using array's gets around the need of a helper row. I really need to get better with arrays.
Here is an example of how I typically do it without arrays.

With C10:AY10 having data of

F

F

X

F

F

X

F

X

X

X

X

X

<tbody>
</tbody>

In C11 and run it across to AY11

=IF(C$10="X",B$11+1,0)

Total Days not smoking, anywhere on the sheet

=COUNTIF($C$10:$AY$10,"X")

Max consecutive days not smoking, anywhere on the sheet

=MAX($C$11:$AY$11)

 

[anzer]

Super formula too!!