COUNTIF

Why this lesson matters: COUNTIF

Count records that meet one text, number, date, or wildcard condition. In this module, the skill supports a larger goal: Classify records, test data quality, and count outcomes against clear rules. The practical application is to count open service requests in an operations list.

=COUNTIF(D2:D200,"Open")

Build it step by step

Work from the business question toward the formula or tool. Keep the source data separate from the output and make every important assumption visible to the reviewer.

• Define the status or exception you need to identify.
• Choose a logical or counting function that matches the rule.
• Test blanks, errors, and boundary values separately.

Check the result and common failure points

Reconcile the number of classified records to the source total and investigate anything left unclassified. Also test a known record, a missing or blank value, and a boundary case. Confirm that ranges are the same size, units are consistent, and copied references move only where intended.

• Compare at least one result with a manual calculation or filtered source record.
• Test blanks, zeros, duplicates, errors, and the exact rule boundary.
• Reconcile row counts or totals before relying on the output.

Use the result in a decision

Count open service requests in an operations list. Label the output clearly, state its period and unit, and explain the action it supports. A technically correct result is only complete when another person can understand, refresh, and review it.