I found a formula online that allowed me to count the first instance of a record, but I need one that allows me to count one instance per category. The first formula was based on a countif criteria that was nested inside a dcounta (see this webpage for more info: http://www.ozgrid.com/Excel/excel-count-one-occurrence.htm).
The problem with that formula is that it removes duplicates by continuing to expand the countif field. But let's say I have apples and oranges in column A, and in column B I have Josh, Jack, and James, and each person has more than one of each. I only want to count one apple for John, one apple for Jack, one apple for James, etc. The formula I was using above wouldn't count Jack or James's apple, because it already counted Josh's.
Does anyone know a way around this?
Thanks!
The problem with that formula is that it removes duplicates by continuing to expand the countif field. But let's say I have apples and oranges in column A, and in column B I have Josh, Jack, and James, and each person has more than one of each. I only want to count one apple for John, one apple for Jack, one apple for James, etc. The formula I was using above wouldn't count Jack or James's apple, because it already counted Josh's.
Does anyone know a way around this?
Thanks!